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Shame is more than a feeling — it's a force. In this episode, we take an overview look at psychiatrist and author Curt Thompson's powerful book The Soul of Shame: Retelling the Stories We Believe About Ourselves. Thompson weaves together neuroscience, psychology, and the biblical narrative to make a compelling case that shame is one of the most destructive — and least talked about — influences shaping our inner lives, our relationships, and our faith.We explore how shame differs from guilt, how it rewires the brain, and most importantly, what God's response to our shame actually looks like — from the Garden of Eden to the cross. This is Episode 1 of a multi-week series. In the coming weeks, we'll slow down and go deeper into specific chapters.
Have you ever felt like you're a fraud, despite all evidence to the contrary? That's the insidious power of shame. This week on In Sanity, we go beyond the surface to reveal the neuroscience of shame. Drawing on Curt Thompson's book(s), insights from Heller & Niederwieser, and cutting-edge research, we explain how shame isn't just an emotion, but a neurobiological trap. Learn how it impacts your brain, why it makes connection so hard, and what the science says about finding freedom from its grip.The Neuroscience of ShameThe Harming Power of ShameThe Biology of Shame: How Trauma Shapes Neurochemistry and Healing PathwaysThe Soul of ShameHealing Shame and Guilt
Send us Fan MailKnowing God's love and actually feeling loved by Him can seem like two completely different things.That gap is exactly what this episode is about. My co-host Kari Eliza of Held Right Here has spent years at the intersection of attachment science, nervous system health, and Christian faith. And what she taught me about experiencing God's love didn't just change how I pray. It shifted how I move through my whole day.In this episode, Kari Eliza walks us through a simple daily practice, one that started not as a spiritual exercise at all but as a way to calm her nervous system. What grew out of it was something she describes as the most transformative thing she has ever done.Three things you will take away from this conversation:Why knowing God loves you and feeling His love are two different things and what creates that gapHow a practice rooted in secure attachment can help you move from performance and striving into genuine rest with GodPractical ways to begin, even if sitting quietly with God feels uncomfortable or unfamiliar at firstWe talk about why Zephaniah 3:17 hits differently when you have experienced what God's delight in you actually feels like. She also highly recommends the book Anatomy of the Soul (affl.) by Dr. Curt Thompson, if you want to go deeper.This is the kind of midlife Christian women spiritual growth conversation that does not come with a five-step formula. It comes with an invitation to slow down and let God love on you.If you are pursuing a God-shaped dream, the intimacy you build with the Lord in this practice is not separate from your calling. It is the foundation of it.If you want to keep growing in community, come find us at Dream Believers, my online space for Christian women who are done waiting on the sidelines and ready to make real progress together. Come find us at merrittonsa.com/dreambelievers.
We tell conversion stories. We tell deconversion stories. But where are the stories of the long, complicated, and faithful middle? Author and Anglican priest Tish Harrison Warren joins Mark Labberton on her new book What Grows in Weary Lands: On Christian Resilience—a vision for faith that endures the long, often dry middle of life. Drawing on the Desert Mothers and Fathers, she names a quiet crisis many believers know but rarely speak: spiritual weariness, prayer that goes silent, and the cultural pull to blow up your life rather than stay in it. "Grit is an essential ingredient of grace, and resilience is indispensable if we are to become who we are made to be." In this episode with Mark Labberton, Warren reflects on her own burnout as a writer, mother, and priest, and what the ancient monks taught her about how to keep going. Together they discuss revivalism's distortions, stability of the heart, the church in exile, patience as resistance to consumerism, communal hope, and what it means to stay in your cell. Episode Highlights "What our culture and what the church tends to lack are stories of a long, steady continuation in faith." "Grit is an essential ingredient of grace, and resilience is indispensable if we are to become who we are made to be." "We meet God in the midst of that, not on the other side of that." "If the moral majority was kind of dressing Jesus up and putting him in a red tie, it didn't seem like a solution to just, for then, to me, put Jesus in a blue tie." "Our primary exile isn't a political state, it's that we're in sin." About Tish Harrison Warren Tish Harrison Warren is a writer and Anglican priest in Austin, Texas, and the author of Liturgy of the Ordinary: Sacred Practices in Everyday Life (Christianity Today's 2018 Book of the Year), Prayer in the Night: For Those Who Work, or Watch, or Weep (Christianity Today's 2022 Book of the Year and the 2022 ECPA Christian Book of the Year), and her newest, What Grows in Weary Lands: On Christian Resilience. She formerly wrote a weekly newsletter for the New York Times and was a columnist for Christianity Today. She serves as the C.S. Lewis Theological Writer-in-Residence for the Anglican Episcopal House of Studies at Baylor's George W. Truett Theological Seminary, a senior fellow with The Trinity Forum, and an assisting priest at Immanuel Anglican Church. Helpful Links and Resources What Grows in Weary Lands: On Christian Resilience by Tish Harrison Warren https://tishharrisonwarren.com/whatgrowsinwearylands Liturgy of the Ordinary: Sacred Practices in Everyday Life by Tish Harrison Warren https://tishharrisonwarren.com/liturgy-of-the-ordinary Prayer in the Night: For Those Who Work, or Watch, or Weep by Tish Harrison Warren https://www.ivpress.com/prayer-in-the-night The Deepest Place: Suffering and the Formation of Hope by Curt Thompson https://curtthompsonmd.com/books/ Immanuel Anglican Church, Austin https://www.immanuelatx.org Tish Harrison Warren online https://tishharrisonwarren.com https://www.instagram.com/tishharrisonwarren/ Show Notes Award-winning Anglican priest, author, and former New York Times newsletter writer Origins of What Grows in Weary Lands—a season of mid-career weariness Sandwich generation: young kids and a mother with Alzheimer's "It felt like I told my husband, like the line went dead." Reading from chapter one—revivalism, deconversion, and the missing middle "What our culture and what the church tends to lack are stories of a long, steady continuation in faith." Perseverance—the "eat your vegetables" of the spiritual life "Grit is an essential ingredient of grace, and resilience is indispensable if we are to become who we are made to be." Reconversion, not deconstruction Stabilitas cordis—stability of the heart The eat-pray-love trap and mid-life self-reinvention Striving, and treating God like an app or an Uber driver Desert Mothers and Fathers, third through fifth century "Stay in your cell"—a holistic call far beyond quiet-time advice Benedict's vow of stability, drawn from desert wisdom The American church as a church in exile, not a promised land "If the moral majority was dressing Jesus up in a red tie, it didn't seem like a solution to put Jesus in a blue tie." "Our primary exile isn't a political state, it's that we're in sin." Charlie—incandescent joy after a long, hard middle Hilda—fifty-eight years of daily prayer for her father's conversion "Impatience is what keeps you buying things. Patience doesn't make anybody any money." Resilience is communal—Curt Thompson on brains that cannot hope alone The long view: small repair, slow institutional change, hope carried together #ChristianResilience #TishHarrisonWarren #WhatGrowsInWearyLands #DesertFathers #StabilityOfTheHeart #SpiritualFormation #AnglicanFaith #FaithAndCulture #ConversingPodcast #MarkLabberton Production Credits Conversing is produced and distributed in partnership with Comment Magazine and Fuller Seminary.
What Is Spiritual Weariness and How Can We Find Renewal? In this episode of The Good Faith Podcast, Curtis Chang chats with Tish Harrison Warren—Anglican priest, former New York Times columnist, and author of What Grows in Weary Lands—about burnout, spiritual weariness, and the exhaustion that escapism and rest alone cannot fix. Tish explains how polarization, digital distraction, consumerism, and isolation can leave us tempted to "flame out" or "numb out." Instead, she invites listeners to "go deeper" through prayer, silence, embodied community, Sabbath, and the difficult but meaningful commitments that lead to lasting renewal. 00:36 - Introduction to World Weariness 02:43 - Tish Describes the Draining Experience of Public Faith 06:04 - What Are the Cultural Factors of Collective Burnout? 13:01 - Dysfunctional Responses: Reinvention and Escape 15:01 - Flame Out, Numb Out, or Go Deep 20:51 - Are There Practical Steps to Go Deep? 23:29 - The Practice of "Staying in Your Cell" 26:40 - The Tough Sell of Going Deeper 32:07 - The "Dark Night of the Soul" as a Growth Stage 36:11 - Learning from Historic Church Practices 38:04 - What Do Healthy Rhythms of Engagement and Withdrawal Look Like? Sign up for The After Party Informational Webinars Sign up for The Good List Mentioned in This Episode: Tish Harrison Warren's What Grows in Weary Lands: On Christian Resilience The Ezra Klein Show: Burned Out? Start Here. Curt Thompson on Covid-era digital fatigue Thomas Aquinas's idea of arduous goods St. John of the Cross's The Dark Night of the Soul Stanley Hauerwas: Evangelicalism Will Die of Exhaustion (conversation with Al Mohler) the Desert Fathers and Mothers: "Stay in your cell" More From Tish Harrison Warren: Tish Harrison Warren's website Tish Harrison Warren's New York Times pieces Other books by Tish Harrison Warren Follow Us: Good Faith on Instagram Good Faith on X (formerly Twitter) Good Faith on Facebook The Good Faith Podcast is a production of a 501(c)(3) nonpartisan organization that does not engage in any political campaign activity to support or oppose any candidate for public office. Any views and opinions expressed by any guests on this program are solely those of the individuals and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of Good Faith.
QUOTES FOR REFLECTION“Someday, when my children are old enough to understand the logic that motivates a mother, I'll tell them: I loved you enough to bug you about where you were going, with whom and what time you would get home. ... I loved you enough to be silent and let you discover your friend was a creep. I loved you enough to make you return a Milky Way with a bite out of it to a drugstore and confess, ‘I stole this.' ... But most of all I loved you enough to say no when you hated me for it. That was the hardest part of all.”~Erma Bombeck (1927-1996), humorist and mother “‘You come of the Lord Adam and the Lady Eve,' said Aslan. ‘And that is both honor enough to erect the head of the poorest beggar, and shame enough to bow the shoulders of the greatest emperor on earth. Be content.'”~C.S. Lewis (1898-1963) in his book Prince Caspian “…shame…is the emotional weapon that evil uses to (1) corrupt our relationships with God and each other, and (2) disintegrate any and all gifts of vocational vision and creativity.”~Curt Thompson in The Soul of Shame: Retelling the Stories We Believe About Ourselves “Christ releases you to be truly human, and you must now learn to express your true self according to the divine pattern, not in self-assertion but in self-giving.”~N.T. Wright, New Testament scholar “Your real, new self (which is Christ's and also yours, and yours just because it is His) will not come as long as you are looking for it. It will come when you are looking for Him…. Look for yourself, and you will find in the long run only hatred, loneliness, despair, rage, ruin, and decay. But look for Christ and you will find Him, and with Him everything else thrown in.”~C.S. Lewis (1898-1963) in his book Mere Christianity “Let us be buried with Christ by Baptism to rise with Him; let us go down with Him to be raised with Him, and let us rise with Him to be glorified with Him.”~Gregory of Nazianzus (329-390), Roman Christian theologian and church leader “Holy baptism…is tantamount to [Christ] saying, My righteousness shall be your righteousness; my innocence, your innocence. Your sins indeed are great, but by baptism I bestow on you my righteousness; I strip death from you and clothe you with my life.”~Martin Luther (1483-1546), German reformerSERMON PASSAGE Romans 6:1-11 (NASB)1 What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin so that grace may increase? 2 May it never be! How shall we who died to sin still live in it? 3 Or do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus have been baptized into His death? 4 Therefore we have been buried with Him through baptism into death, so that as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness of life. 5 For if we have become united with Him in the likeness of His death, certainly we shall also be in the likeness of His resurrection, 6 knowing this, that our old self was crucified with Him, in order that our body of sin might be done away with, so that we would no longer be slaves to sin; 7 for he who has died is freed from sin. 8 Now if we have died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with Him, 9 knowing that Christ, having been raised from the dead, is never to die again; death no longer is master over Him. 10 For the death that He died, He died to sin once for all; but the life that He lives, He lives to God. 11 Even so consider yourselves to be dead to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus.
Overcoming anxiety and finding peace starts with training your thoughts through faith, truth, and intentional habits. Psalm 16:7 reveals how God counsels and steadies our hearts—even in the quiet, vulnerable moments of the night when worry tends to rise. This devotional connects faith with the practical reality of how our minds work. Left unchecked, our thoughts often drift toward fear and negativity, especially in overwhelming seasons. But peace isn’t out of reach—it’s cultivated. Through consistent practices like prayer, Scripture, and renewing our thinking, God begins reshaping our inner world. While transformation may feel slow, it’s deeply powerful. As we learn to focus on God’s voice over our fears, we begin building new patterns of peace that steady us in every season. Highlights Our minds naturally drift toward worry without intentional focus Peace is built through consistent, faith-filled thought patterns God’s truth can reshape how we respond to anxiety Spiritual practices and practical tools work together for healing Lasting change takes time—but progress is happening beneath the surface God meets us in our overwhelm and leads us toward freedom Do you want to listen ad-free? When you join Crosswalk Plus, you gain access to exclusive, in-depth Bible study guides, devotionals, sound biblical advice, and daily encouragement from trusted pastors and authors—resources designed to strengthen your faith and equip you to live it out boldly. PLUS ad free podcasts! Sign Up Today! Full Transcript Below: Training Our Brains Toward Peace By: Jennifer Slattery Bible Reading:I will praise the LORD, who counsels me; even at night my heart instructs me. Psalm 16:7 NIV According to mental health experts, our brains, left untended, drift toward negativity. That’s probably why what-if thinking hits hardest and feels most relentless as we’re trying to drift off to sleep. If you’ve listened to many Faith Over Fear podcast episodes or follow me on social media, you might have heard me talk about my “no-good-horrible-terrible-really-bad year” (that actually lasted for three). It was a season of complete overwhelm that felt never-ending. Initially, I endured intense anxiety nearly from the moment I stepped out of bed until I finally fell asleep. There were some nights when this hyper-alert state, and all the stress chemicals flooding my body, kept me awake for over 48 hours at a time. This went on long enough that I began to fear I’d remain perpetually exhausted and never again experience God’s peace. This felt particularly frustrating because I was actively investing in my spiritual health. I still read my Bible each day, often numerous times—including in the wee hours of the morning when I needed reminders of God’s presence, purposes, and promises. I prayed constantly. I simply practiced sitting with the Lord in silence, placed sticky notes with relevant Scripture throughout the house, and memorized and regularly recited verses declaring Christ’s power and grace. None of those practices seemed to help, or at least, not enough to quiet my overwhelm. I began finding relief once I started actively focusing on retraining my brain through grounding techniques, listening to biblical content throughout the night, and seeking support from a counselor. With the Holy Spirit’s help, intentionality, and consistency, my anxiety steadily decreased. Now, while my amygdala, our brain’s alarm system responsible for fight-or-flight responses, still gets triggered on occasion, those unpleasant bursts feel much fewer and shorter-lasting, with ever-lengthening periods of peace in between. While I highly doubt David, ancient Israel’s second king who wrote today’s verse, understood neuroplasticity (our brain’s ability to grow and change throughout our lives), he seemed to recognize the importance of “taking [his] thoughts captive and making them obedient to Christ,” as 2 Corinthians 10:4 encourages. When his circumstances felt hopeless, and his soul weighed down with sorrow and fear, he regularly turned to God, sought His help, and meditated upon His unchanging and immutable truths. “I will praise the Lord who counsels me,” he wrote, indicating a close connection with his heavenly Father in which he actively listened. He also seemed to elevate God’s voice above his overwhelm, a skill that takes practice and determination, and that, apparently, led to the latter part of today’s verse where his heart, so filled with truth, “instructed” him at night—perhaps when he most struggled with fearful thoughts. Intersecting Life &Faith: I’ve experienced chronic anxiety for as long as I can remember. For years, I assumed this was simply my plight, caused by genetics and biochemicals. I didn’t realize how past experiences, including an unpleasant childhood, had trained my brain to remain hyper-alert to threat. (It’s hard, if not impossible, to feel at peace while constantly scanning one’s environment for danger.) I also didn’t understand the ways and speed at which our neural pathways grow and change. I expected grounding techniques, like diaphragm-breathing, to provide instant calm. When that didn’t occur, I assumed those tools simply didn’t work for me. Again, I was simply an anxious person. I now recognize that our thoughts take time to change. According to Dr. Curt Thompson, a Christ-following psychiatrist who studies the brain, our neural pathways, or thought channels, grow at the rate of two millimeters a day. That’s a slow transformation! While that fact might feel discouraging, to me it provided focus and hope. Focus because it helped me comprehend the power of every intentional or automatic thought. In other words, my brain was changing—for better or worse, toward increased peace or fear. This knowledge sparked a determination to do my part, as best as I was able. It also helped explain why this initially felt so hard (and at times, still does). I’d spent a lifetime building and deepening those unhelpful channels. In the Faith Over Fear episode titled “Breaking Negative Patterns: How to Rewire Your Brain for More Peace and Less Anxiety,” Dr. Alan Weissenbacher compared our neural pathways to freeways. Rerouting our thoughts involves dismantling the unhelpful freeway upon which they’ve historically traveled while building new roadways. If today’s devotion resonates with you, perhaps check out that episode. I also invite you to subscribe to my free daily Faith Over Fear emails designed to help you build holy mental highways. Reach out to me through my website if you’d like me to add you. If you struggle with ongoing anxiety, I pray you walk away from today’s discussion with this: You aren’t stuck in your overwhelm. Peace is possible! The Lord, your Prince, or source, of peace will lead you to increased inner tranquility and, dare I say, joy. Perhaps He’ll encourage you to try the steps I shared here. Or, He might guide you differently, in a way uniquely effective for you. But you can trust His heart to see you live in the freedom He purchased through His death on the cross. When anxiety hits, ask Him to show you the healthiest response in that moment, believing He’s helping you dismantle the neural pathways that threaten to enslave you while leading you to your best self and most fulfilling life. Further Reading: Philippians 4:4-8 Isaiah 26:3 John 14:27 Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.
Today on The Dad Whisperer Podcast we're joined by a man who has had a significant influence on my life---author, speaker, and national influencer, Dr. Curt Thompson. You'll love hearing from him as we talk about how a dad can lead the way back to his daughter's heart through repair after things fall apart. This is an episode you definitely don't want to miss as Dr. Curt speaks life into us by addressing this tender topic with wisdom, compassion and grace.
What am I doing here? What steps can I take when at times I feel tempted to despair about my work? How will I be able to continue to do the work I love in a culture of such fracture, polarization and contempt that only seems to be intensifying? This conversation with board certified psychiatrist, author, speaker, Dr. Curt Thompson, will provide practical ways of finding joy and resilience while discerning what it means to faithfully live out the vocational callings that perhaps for many of us feel so overwhelming. Support the show
As we continue our journey through the season of Lent, we're offering a series to help each of us prepare the way of the Lord. As we go deeper in our spiritual practices during these days, our guide today is the author and psychiatrist Dr. Curt Thompson. In this conversation, Curt talks about the virtue, and discipline, of pursuing hope, even amid the darkness of a broken world:"While I am working to move toward Jesus, while I'm moving to be further in the dance of the Trinity, I continue to suffer because evil is not about to go quietly into the night ... [we must] posture ourselves with our suffering in the same way that the Holy Trinity does when it comes to the suffering that Jesus experienced, such that we can join him in that."This episode is drawn from an online conversation recorded in 2023. View the transcript and other resources there.Related Trinity Forum Readings:Confessions; St AugustineGod's Grandeur; Gerard Manley HopkinsBulletins from Immortality; Emily DickinsonOn Friendship; CiceroOn Happiness; AquinasMan's Search for Meaning; Viktor Frankl
In this episode, Jennie sits down with her longtime friend, mentor, and counselor Dr. Curt Thompson for a deep conversation about lies, healing, shame, neuroplasticity, and the power of community.Together, they explore why the lies we believe about ourselves can feel so normal that we stop noticing them, how those lies get embedded in us over time, and why freedom takes more than just hearing the truth once. This conversation is a powerful reminder that healing is not just about information - it is about practice, remembrance, and being deeply known by safe people.Resources & Links:GET JENNIE'S NEW BOOKJoin the fight clubFight Your Lie Tour Tickets hereCheck out Boll and BranchListen to more episodes: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | YouTubeLearn More About JennieFollow Jennie on social:InstagramFacebook
Welcome back to this brand new season of the Rhythms For Life podcast! Freshly thawed from the ice storm that hit Nashville a couple weeks ago, Gabe and Rebekah welcome their longtime friend, global speaker, and prolific author, Christine Caine. As she approaches her 60th birthday, Christine shares her inspiring 60 at 60 challenge: committing to 60 new experiences to keep her brain and spirit thriving. This conversation dives deep into the heart of Christine's new book, The Faith to Flourish, which explores the profound spiritual symbolism of the olive tree. Together, they discuss how to move from a season of "languishing" to one of flourishing, drawing wisdom from the life of David and the resilience of the sacred olive trees in Athens.In this episode, you'll hear: The 60 at 60 Challenge: Christine's recent adventures in Alaska, including sleeping in an igloo and dog sledding, and why novelty is essential for a thriving brain The Sacred Olive Tree: The moment in Athens that shifted Christine's perspective on faith and endurance. Flourishing in the Cave: How David's words in Psalm 52:8 provide a roadmap for staying positive and fruitful even when life feels like a crisis. Overcoming Languish: Addressing the post-COVID mojo loss and how to reconnect with a rhythm of life that leads to spiritual health Patient Endurance: Why the slow growth of an olive tree is a beautiful picture of the long-term faithfulness God requires of us. Resources: Buy Christine's Book: The Faith to Flourish by Christine Caine Christine's Website: ChristineCaine.com Follow Christine on Instagram: @ChristineCaine Learn about A21: A21.org Join us November 19-20 for our Emotional Health Retreat in Franklin, TN. Register now and save $200 when you use the code EH200. Get The Fight for Us book and curriculum: The Fight For Us Take the THINQ Assessment: https://thinqassessment.scoreapp.com/ Create a free THINQ Account: Access more trusted content at thinqmedia.com More from the THINQ Podcast Network: UnderCurrent with Gabe Lyons: https://www.youtube.com/@gabe_lyons The InFormed Parent with Suzanne Phillips: https://www.youtube.com/@InFormedParent NextUp with Grant Skeldon: https://www.youtube.com/@GrantSkeldon NeuroFaith with Curt Thompson: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/neurofaith-with-curt-thompson-md/id1613240148 THINQ Podcast with Gabe Lyons: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/thinq-media-podcast/id1072608281
In this sermon from Genesis 2:25–3:13, we explore the surprising first effect of sin in the Bible: shame.Before violence.Before injustice.Before death.There was hiding.Why does sin immediately lead Adam and Eve to cover themselves? Why do we still hide today? And why is it so hard to even talk about sin?This message unpacks:The difference between sin and sinningThe difference between guilt and shameHow shame traps us in cycles of isolationHow confession breaks the power of shameWhy the cross of Jesus is the only place shame truly diesDrawing from voices like Brené Brown, Curt Thompson, Karl Barth, and Dietrich Bonhoeffer, this sermon invites us out of hiding and into healing community.If you've ever felt exposed, unworthy, or afraid of being truly known—this message is for you.There is no shame at the foot of the cross. Only forgiveness. Only grace. Only freedom.
Curt Thompson is a psychiatrist, a speaker, and the author of several books–most recently, The Deepest Place: Suffering and the Formation of Hope. In this episode, Curt and Jonathan Rogers talk about what it means to be hospitable to your own suffering, engaging suffering as the way of redemption, and the role of storytelling in mental and spiritual health. This episode originally ran in August 2023.Support the show: https://therabbitroom.givingfuel.com/memberSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Benjamin Wills is a man who has given every part of his life to the good/hard work of seeing people and communities restored to their God-given fullness. He's worked and lived in marginalized communities, welcomed children into his family through adoption, shepherded a congregation in the Anglican church, and pastored my own Hope Heals Camp community for over five years! Benjamin is gentle and humble of heart, while being an absolute force for God's goodness in the city of Atlanta. I cannot wait for you to get to know this one-of-a-kind friend and soak up his wisdom on raising kids who know they're beloved by God, the gift of spiritual direction, and the unexpected spiritual rhythms that have formed his soul most deeply.Show NotesWhat we mentioned:Adam Young - https://adamyoungcounseling.com/Curt Thompson - https://curtthompsonmd.com/Hope Heals Camp - https://hopeheals.com/campThe Daily Examen - https://www.ignatianspirituality.com/ignatian-prayer/the-examen/Scriptures we referenced:Romans 12:2John 6:68Where to find more from Benjamin Wills: www.sozojustice.com Sozo Instagram: @sozojusticecollectivePersonal Instagram: @mrwills23For more messages of hope, free resources, and opportunities to connect with me: https://hopeheals.com/Follow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hopeheals/Subscribe to The GoodHard Story Podcast!Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/good-hard-story-podcast/id1496882479Spotify:https://open.spotify.com/show/0OYz6G9Q2tNNVOX9YSdmFb?si=043bd6b10a664bebWant a little hope in your inbox? Sign up for the Hope Note, a monthly digest of only the good stuff, like reflections from me and a curated roundup of the Internet's most redemptive content: http://eepurl.com/gGUnlfGet to know us:Hope Heals: https://hopeheals.com/spacesHope Heals Camp: https://hopeheals.com/campMend Coffee: https://www.mendcoffee.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hopeheals/
In this episode, we are joined by Dr. Matthew LaPine to have a conversation about mental health, and how his work in this area has informed his view of how the church engages with the idea of mental health.ResourcesThe Logic of the Body by Dr. Matthew LaPineThe Boy Who Was Raised as a Dog by Dr. Bruce D. Perry and Maia SzalavitzWayfaring: A Christian Approach to Mental Health Care by Warren KinghornStatus Anxiety by Alain De BottonA Quiet Mind to Suffer With: Mental Illness, Trauma, and the Death of Christ by John Andrew BryantDopamine Nation by Dr. Anna LembkeThe Soul of Shame by Curt ThompsonConnect With Us providenceomaha.org | Instagram | Facebook Email Us formation@providenceomaha.org
We talk a lot about sin, discipline, and behavior - but rarely about desire. In this episode, Jennie explores where our longings actually come from and why desire itself isn't the problem.Drawing from Scripture and insights from Curt Thompson, this conversation reframes desire as something God-given that often gets misdirected.Resources & Links:Get the 2026 Dream Guide hereFight Your Lie Tour Tickets hereREGISTER TO HOST AN IF:LOCALListen to more episodes: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | YouTubeLearn More About JennieFollow Jennie on social:InstagramFacebookJennie's new book "The Lie You Don't Know You Believe" is available for pre-order NOW - GRAB A COPY HERE!
Inspired by deep compassion for others and informed from a Christian perspective, psychiatrist Curt Thompson shares fresh insights and practical applications for developing more authentic relationships and fully experiencing our deepest longing: to be known. He's written several books, including: Anatomy of the Soul The Soul of Shame The Deepest Place Become a Patreon Supporter
Gabe and Rebekah close out 2025 with the final episode of Season 12. Fresh off celebrating their 28th wedding anniversary in New York City, they reflect on a year filled with honest conversations about marriage, rhythms, and real life. This episode is a heartfelt recap of the season's highlights, a celebration of breakthroughs readers have experienced through their book The Fight for Us, and an invitation to invest even deeper in your marriage in 2026.In this episode, you'll hear:Why the end-of-year holiday season is the perfect time for reflection and taking inventory as a coupleThe four simple questions Gabe and Rebekah ask every year to evaluate their marriage and family lifePersonal stories from their anniversary getaway—including a magical evening of live jazz with Chris BottiPowerful reader reviews and testimonies from couples and small groups using The Fight for Us and the new curriculumExciting details about two upcoming opportunities to go deeper with Gabe and Rebekah in 2026Resources:Download the free Year-End Inventory Guide (What's Right, Wrong, Confused, and Missing) in the show notesGet The Fight for Us book and the new small-group curriculumJoin Gabe and Rebekah for the intimate Beach Marriage Intensive, February 9–12, 2026 (limited spots remaining) at https://rebekahlyons.com/intensive — use code RFL500 for $500 offSave your seat for the Marriage & Parenting Retreat, May 14–15, 2026 in Franklin, TN at https://rebekahlyons.com/retreat — use code RFL200 for $200 offUnlock the THINQ Summit 2025 All-Access Pass before it's released to the public: https://thinqmedia.com/access25/More from the THINQ Podcast Network:UnderCurrent with Gabe Lyons: https://www.youtube.com/@gabe_lyonsThe InFormed Parent with Suzanne Phillips: https://www.youtube.com/@InFormedParentNextUp with Grant Skeldon: https://www.youtube.com/@GrantSkeldonNeuroFaith with Curt Thompson: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/neurofaith-with-curt-thompson-md/id1613240148
Gabe and Rebekah welcome their longtime friend, incredible leader, and prolific author, Mark Batterson. Known for his unique way with words, Mark joins the conversation to discuss the vital difference between having good intentions and implementing true, strategic rhythms in your life and marriage.This is a conversation about the power of intentionality and the practical steps required to align your time, your values, and your vision as a couple. They dive into why rhythms—not just desires—are the only things that will shape the health and direction of your future.In this episode, you'll learn:Why all the right intentions will fail without a strategic plan and mutual alignmentThe power of sitting down together to get serious about how you will allocate your time in the year aheadHow to move beyond the hardest moments of marriage by establishing a unified rhythmThe specific questions couples should ask to ensure alignment and shared clarity for their livesResources:Mark's Website: https://www.markbatterson.com/Follow Mark on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/markbattersonBuy Gradually Then Suddenly here: https://a.co/d/1Az2uZA/Get Rebekah's Friendsgiving Guide: https://www.rebekahlyons.com/friendsgivingThe Journal For Us: 10 Conversations Every Couple Needs to HaveReserve your spot now for Rhythms Retreat November 21-22 in Franklin, TN. Create a free THINQ Account to access more trusted content like this on topics from all channels of culture at thinqmedia.com.Unlock the THINQ Summit 2025 All-Access Pass before it's released to the public: https://thinqmedia.com/access25/More from the THINQ Podcast Network:UnderCurrent with Gabe Lyons: https://www.youtube.com/@gabe_lyonsThe InFormed Parent with Suzanne Phillips: https://www.youtube.com/@InFormedParentNextUp with Grant Skeldon: https://www.youtube.com/@GrantSkeldonNeuroFaith with Curt Thompson: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/neurofaith-with-curt-thompson-md/id1613240148
James Bryan Smith's thought from above in this episode is, “Love Has You.” Smith talks about the impact five authors have had on his spiritual life. These five authors are: Ian Morgan Cron, Michael Cusick, Aundi Kolber, Alison Cook, and Curt Thompson, M.D. Interested in donating to the Things Above Podcast? Donate here! Learn more […] The post Love Has You appeared first on Apprentice Institute.
In this episode, Gabe and Rebekah sit down with their friends Ryan and Raechel Myers, the founders of the global ministry She Reads Truth and He Reads Truth. What does it look like to build a marriage, a family, and a demanding business all under one roof? The Myerses live this integrated life every day. This is a candid conversation about the dance of being spouses and business partners. In this episode, you'll learn:The surprising story of how She Reads Truth grew from a personal hashtag into a global community.How to be "ruthless about unity" and resolve conflict quickly when your spouse is also your business partner.The challenges and hard-won rhythms of practicing Sabbath and "turning off" work when your work is at home.Simple, daily practices to stay rooted in the Word and connected as a couple.How understanding the Bible's meta-narrative—especially the theme of "home" from Eden to the New Jerusalem—can transform your faith.Resources:Use code RHYTHMS15 for 15% off anything in the Advent Collection: https://www.shopshereadstruth.com/collections/advent-2025-tidings-of-comfort-and-joy/Learn more about She Reads Truth and He Reads Truth at SheReadsTruth.comThe Journal For Us: 10 Conversations Every Couple Needs to HaveReserve your spot now for Rhythms Retreat November 21-22 in Franklin, TN. Create a free THINQ Account to access more trusted content like this on topics from all channels of culture at thinqmedia.com.Unlock the THINQ Summit 2025 All-Access Pass before it's released to the public: https://thinqmedia.com/access25/More from the THINQ Podcast Network: UnderCurrent with Gabe Lyons: https://www.youtube.com/@gabe_lyonsThe InFormed Parent with Suzanne Phillips: https://www.youtube.com/@InFormedParentNextUp with Grant Skeldon: https://www.youtube.com/@GrantSkeldonNeuroFaith with Curt Thompson: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/neurofaith-with-curt-thompson-md/id1613240148
Embracing Your Season: Raising Littles and Understanding Teens with Paige Clingenpeel
Where does God's goodness fit when we're confronted with grief? How do we grapple with the command to “be of good cheer” (John 16:33) when life is a daily struggle? Today's guest, Dr. Curt Thompson has made it his life's work to understand how God sees us, knows us, loves us, and welcomes us into His arms, even in the midst of unimaginable grief. With great authenticity and vulnerability, Dr. Curt shares with Paige how God is waiting for us to invite Him into our grief and pain, to sit with us, comfort us, and bring the hope of heaven into our hearts. Curt Thompson, MD, is a board certified psychiatrist, author, speaker, and co-host of The Being Known Podcast. He has been in private practice for over 30 years in Falls Church, Virginia and is married with two adult children. Paige ClingenpeelQuestions About the Podcast? Email: paigeclingenpeel@gmail.comFacebook: @Paige ClingenpeelInstagram: @paigeclingenpeelYouTube: Embracing Your Season Sponsored by HomeWordHomeWordConnecting with Dr. Curt ThompsonAbout Dr. Curt ThompsonBeing Known Podcast WebsiteBeing Known Podcast on AppleThe Center for Being KnownBooksThe Deepest Place: Suffering and the Formation of HopeAll Books by Dr. Curt ThompsonKeywords/Hashtags#embracingyourseason #mentalhealth #podcast #podcastcommunity #paigeclingenpeel #homeword #drcurtthompson #thedeepestplace #grief #suffering #hope #relationships #jesus #durablehope #catalysttohope #soul #community # #pfcaudiovideo Send us a text
Gabe and Rebekah are joined by their longtime friend, Jon Tyson, author and pastor of Church of the City in New York City. They dive into the realities of marriage, especially how the intense pressures of life, ministry, and urban living can either drive a couple apart or forge an unshakeable union. This is a raw and honest conversation about what it takes to "fight harder," see your marriage with a vertical framework, and find joy in the hard work of becoming one.In this episode, you'll learn:Why pressure is the defining test of marriage and how it can bring you together.The surprising statistic that 80% of "bad" marriages become great within 5 years—if you stay in it.The importance of a "vertical view" of marriage, especially when facing conflict or emotional abandonment.Why joy in marriage is found in "the talking" and the active work of resolving conflict.How to implement intentional rhythms of rest (like Stephen Covey's "big rocks first") to connect with God, even in a chaotic city.Resources:Learn more about Jon Tyson and his work at JonTyson.comThe 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen CoveyThe Divine Conspiracy by Dallas WillardKnowing God by J.I. PackerThe Journal For Us: 10 Conversations Every Couple Needs to HaveReserve your spot now for Rhythms Retreat November 21-22 in Franklin, TN. Create a free THINQ Account to access more trusted content like this on topics from all channels of culture at thinqmedia.com.Unlock the THINQ Summit 2025 All-Access Pass before it's released to the public: https://thinqmedia.com/access25/More from the THINQ Podcast Network: UnderCurrent with Gabe Lyons: https://www.youtube.com/@gabe_lyonsThe InFormed Parent with Suzanne Phillips: https://www.youtube.com/@InFormedParentNextUp with Grant Skeldon: https://www.youtube.com/@GrantSkeldonNeuroFaith with Curt Thompson: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/neurofaith-with-curt-thompson-md/id1613240148
There's no avoiding pain in this world. Whether it's in the form of betrayal, trauma, illness, grief, or abandonment, we've all experienced the kind of pain that completely consumes us and transforms how we show up in the world. Toni Collier shares from her book, "Don't Try This Alone: How to Build Deep Community When You Want to Hide from Your Pain." Listen to Dr. Curt Thompson on Confessional Communities here Check out Susie's new podcast God Impressions on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts! Faith Radio podcasts are made possible by your support. Give now: click here
Gabe and Rebekah Lyons continue The Rhythm of Us series with special guests Ann Voskamp. What does it look like to build a family legacy rooted in faith, resilience, and deep connection? In this episode, Ann shares their journey of life on the farm—raising children who are best friends, staying rooted in their community, and casting a vision for generations to come.In this episode, you'll learn:The hidden gift of trauma—and how community helps us endure and healDaily rhythms that shape legacy, like scripture conversations and nightly walksWhy gratitude interrupts anxiety and unlocks hopeThe power of confession, repentance, and active listening to deepen intimacyThis conversation will challenge you to slow down, notice the good, and lean into God's provision—building a family life that endures.Resources:Learn more about Ann Voskamp's work, including her book: Loved to Life; Gifts & Gratitudes; https://annvoskamp.com/Ann Voskamp, One Thousand Gifts - https://annvoskamp.com/onethousandgifts/Rory Groves, The Family Economy - https://www.thegrovestead.com/familyeconomy/The Journal For Us: 10 Conversations Every Couple Needs to HaveReserve your spot now for Rhythms Retreat November 21-22 in Franklin, TN. Create a free THINQ Account to access more trusted content like this on topics from all channels of culture at thinqmedia.com.Unlock the THINQ Summit 2025 All-Access Pass before it's released to the public: https://thinqmedia.com/access25/More from the THINQ Podcast Network:UnderCurrent with Gabe LyonsThe InFormed Parent with Suzanne PhillipsNextUp with Grant SkeldonNeuroFaith with Curt Thompson
Curt Thompson writes, “We all come out of the womb looking for someone looking for us with love and delight.” As God's creation, we are made to receive and give love by God. In Jesus we are given this love and it's in him we receive our desire to be seen, felt, and loved. As recipients of this love, we are then called to give it away just like Jesus did for us—lavishly, sacrificially, even to our enemies—who, like us, are broken and longing for His healing. When we're saturated in Christ's love, we can't help but love others, whatever the cost. And as we do people will slowly find their way home—the heart of the Father.
Join us this week as we take a brief pause from our Moses series to explore the topic of shame and how, through Christ, we can find freedom. As the Christian author and physiatrist, Curt Thompson writes, "To be human is to be infected by this phenomenon we call shame." (The Soul of Shame pg. 22) Shame affects us all, but Jesus confronts it head-on.
Gabe and Rebekah continue The Rhythm of Us series with special guests Rachel and Winston Cruze. What does it look like to find harmony in marriage through wise money habits? Rachel and Winston share their journey—from spender-vs-saver tensions to practical tools for auditing spending and building unity as a team. They laugh about shared anniversaries, unpack origin stories around finances, and offer encouragement for couples seeking to steward resources with intention and grace. In this episode, you'll learn: How to recognize spender-saver dynamics and turn them into strengths for your marriage. Practical steps to audit subscriptions, cut unnecessary costs, and align on a budget together. Why understanding your "money origin story" fosters empathy and deeper connection. Simple rhythms like weekly money dates to keep communication open and fun. The role of generosity and contentment in building a legacy of financial peace. This conversation will equip you to approach money not as a battleground, but as a shared path toward freedom and unity in your home. RResources: Learn more about Rachel Cruze's work, including her book "Know Yourself, Know Your Money": https://store.ramseysolutions.com/mon... and podcast "The Rachel Cruze Show": / @rachelcruze The Journal For Us: 10 Conversations Every Couple Needs to Have: https://a.co/d/j1xmS4QReserve your spot now for Rhythms Retreat November 21-22 in Franklin, TN: https://www.rebekahlyons.com/retreat/Create a free THINQ Account to access more trusted content like this on topics from all channels of culture at https://www.thinqmedia.com/Attend THINQ events where you can gather with like-minded leaders, ask better questions and have conversations that lead to wisdom:THINQ Summit Oct 2-4 in Nashville, TN: https://events.thinqmedia.com/2025summitMore from the THINQ Podcast Network: UnderCurrent with Gabe Lyons: / @gabe_lyons The InFormed Parent with Suzanne Phillips: / @informedparent NextUp with Grant Skeldon: / @grantskeldon NeuroFaith with Curt Thompson: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast...
Gabe and Rebekah Lyons sit down with author, speaker, and podcast host Madison Prewett Troutt to unpack themes from her new book Dare to Be True. In light of the recent death of Charlie Kirk, they discuss what it means to stand firm in God's truth, live with bold faith, and walk in freedom during a cultural moment filled with confusion and compromise.In this episode, you'll learn:Why bold faith is essential in a culture filled with lies.How to find freedom in Christ by living vulnerably and truthfully.Why prayer and accountability matter for married couples.How to pursue holiness together in a world that pulls toward compromise.Ways to courageously live out truth in today's cultural moment.Tune in to hear Madison share how vulnerability, accountability, and holiness are vital to following Jesus—whether in marriage, friendships, or public witness.ResourcesPre-order Madison's book, Dare to Be True, here: https://www.amazon.com/Dare-Be-True-Defeat-Truth/dp/0593445279/See Madi give her "Called and Confident" talk at THINQ Summit in Nashville, Oct. 2-4. Register at thinqsummit.com.Get The Journal For Us: 10 Conversations Every Couple Needs to Have: https://www.amazon.com/Journal-Us-Conversations-Every-Couple/dp/0310365503/Reserve your spot now for Rhythms Retreat November 21-22 in Franklin, TN: https://www.rebekahlyons.com/retreat/Create a free THINQ Account to access more trusted content like this on topics from all channels of culture at https://www.thinqmedia.com/Attend THINQ events where you can gather with like-minded leaders, ask better questions and have conversations that lead to wisdom:THINQ Summit Oct 2-4 in Nashville, TNMore from the THINQ Podcast Network:UnderCurrent with Gabe Lyons: https://www.youtube.com/@gabe_lyonsThe InFormed Parent with Suzanne Phillips: https://www.youtube.com/@InFormedParentNextUp with Grant Skeldon: https://www.youtube.com/@GrantSkeldonNeuroFaith with Curt Thompson: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/neurofaith-with-curt-thompson-md/id1613240148
Carrie Sheffield, author of “Motorhome Prophecies,” joins Today's Conversation to share her remarkable journey from a childhood marked by spiritual and psychological abuse to a renewed faith in Jesus Christ. In this honest and powerful episode, Carrie reflects on how forgiveness became central to her healing — and why she believes there is lasting hope for mental health through Christ. In this episode, Carrie Sheffield recounts her upbringing under the influence of a father who claimed Mormon prophetic authority, enforced fear-based teachings and subjected the family to instability and trauma. After leaving faith behind for over a decade, her pursuit of truth — through science, philosophy and deep soul-searching — ultimately led her to God. Her story is a moving testimony of hope, healing and forgiveness. In her conversation with NAE President Walter Kim, they discuss: Understanding how the brain's ability to change offers hope for overcoming mental health challenges;How Carrie experienced personal healing through prayer and deliverance ministries;A call to action for the Church to actively engage in addressing mental health with truth; andHow forgiveness is not just a theological idea but a lived reality that brings freedom, healing and redemption. Subscribe today wherever you listen to podcasts.Do you like the podcast?Give us a 5-star rating on Apple Podcasts and leave us a review. This is the best way for others to discover these conversations. If you listen on Spotify, give us a follow and hit the notification bell to be sure you never miss an episode. And don't forget to pass your favorite episodes along to colleagues, friends and family.ResourcesFull conversation with Carrie Sheffield on YouTubeFor reflection, see Psalm 34:18, Ephesians 4:32 and John 10:10“Motorhome Prophecies: A Journey of Healing and Forgiveness,” by Carrie Sheffield “Called to Forgive,” by Anthony B. Thompson Harvard Human Flourishing ProgramHealing Church Hurt edition of the NAE magazineExploring Soul Care, NAE podcast with Dr. Curt Thompson
Dr. Curt Thompson (https://curtthompsonmd.com/) is a widely known expert in interpersonal neurobiology, and I could not be more excited for you to hear this episode. Dr. Thompson's genuine love and care for people shines brightly in this conversation where he highlights his unique insights about how the brain affects and processes relationships. Dr. Thompson focuses on what we all as humans want— to be known— and how shame and trauma keep us in hiding. He shares about the non-profit he founded, The Center for Being Known (https://www.thecbk.org/), and the “confessional communities” that are part of the Center. These communities, Dr. Thompson shares, foster an environment where people feel seen, soothed, safe, and secure, which leads to a deeper relationship with God and others. Dr. Thompson not only shares his expertise and wisdom but also some of his personal story of parenting an adult child who struggled with a mental health issue. Dr. Thompson is also the host of The Being Know Podcast (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/being-known-podcast/id1556261828), which helps people discover and explore what it means to be truly known.
Embracing Your Season: Raising Littles and Understanding Teens with Paige Clingenpeel
Talking with kids about sickness, grief, and death is never easy—but it's essential. In this episode, counselor and speaker Paige Clingenpeel joins producer Mike Segovia to share honest, practical ways parents can walk their children through these difficult moments. Paige opens up about her own health journey, the questions kids naturally ask, and how parents can give age-appropriate, hope-filled answers without needing to have it all figured out. Together, they discuss how children process grief differently than adults, why honesty matters more than perfection, and how modeling faith in hard times points kids to Jesus. As Paige reminds us: “God has a different view than we do. He sees the bigger picture… and He is still a good God, even in this.”Episode 62-Hope in Grief with Dr. Curt Thompson: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2271776/episodes/16440828 Paige Clingenpeel: PaigeClingenpeel.comQuestions About the Podcast? Email: paigeclingenpeel@gmail.comFacebook: @Paige ClingenpeelInstagram: @paigeclingenpeelYouTube: Embracing Your Season sponsored by HomeWordPaige's Practical Tips:Be honest and clearChoose your words wisely and keep the conversation age appropriatePoint people to JesusDeath is not the end. It's a great opportunity to have a conversation about what happens after we die and point people to Jeus.Invite QuestionsAsk, What are you thinking? How are you feeling? Keep checking in with your childrenBe a safe place for them to ask questions not just when a death happens, but also later as they are processing and grievingKeywords/Hashtags#EmbracingYourSeason #PaigeClingenpeel #Death #Loss #Grief #Christian #Faith #ChristianParent #Parenting #Parents #Podcast #PodcastCommunity #HomeWord #PFCAudioVideo Send us a text
Today's episode features Dr. Curt Thompson—psychiatrist, speaker, author, and podcast host of Being Known and NeuroFaith (A THINQ Media Podcast). He unpacks why anxiety has become the dominant emotion for the next generation and how we can respond with healthier practices. Dr. Thompson offers practical tools for calming anxiety, regulating emotions, and creating space for both mind and body to thrive. If you've felt overwhelmed or burned out, this talk will help you find greater peace and resilience. Resources: YMAL: You may also like Redeeming Systems & People by Heather Rice-Minus. Create a free THINQ Account and download the THINQ Media app on your smart TV to access more trusted content like this on topics from all channels of culture at thinqmedia.com. Apply the THINQ Framework as you think through cultural topics. Attend THINQ events where you can gather with like-minded leaders, ask better questions and have conversations that lead to wisdom: Sign up for THINQ Summit 2025 October 2-4 in Nashville, TN. Host a THINQ Family conversation series in your home: Let's Talk Relationships Let's Talk Mental Health Let's Talk Tech Detox More from the THINQ Podcast Network: Rhythms for Life with Rebekah and Gabe Lyons The InFormed Parent with Suzanne Phillips NextUp with Grant Skeldon NeuroFaith with Curt Thompson UnderCurrent with Gabe Lyons Now on YouTube! Subscribe, Like, and Share: THINQ Media UnderCurrent with Gabe Lyons NextUp with Grant Skeldon Rhythms for Life with Rebekah and Gabe Lyons The InFormed Parent with Suzanne Phillips
Our kids begin to feel and respond to shame as early as 15 to 18 months of age. Those early moments can begin a lifelong struggle with feeling unworthy, inadequate and unlovable. Shame also disintegrates us (separating our thinking brain from our feeling brain) and isolates us from others. My guest is Dr. Curt Thompson, a psychiatrist and expert on the effects of shame and how to find freedom from the lifelong negative messages that come after us and our family. “One of the things that we notice about shame is that because we are immobilized and we are hiding, shame does not actually ever allow us to move toward God. This is why we have to have someone come and find us. This is why when our children are experiencing shame, we have to go and find them. This is why it's important for us as parents to have others who are coming to find us.” YES! Moms don't let moms sit in shame. We can choose to seek out others when they are stuck in the shame cycle. Who are your 2 or 3 moms that will help you tell your story more truly? Dr. Thompson walks us through some practical ways to build in memories and physical reminders to work against shame in the future for both ourselves and others. And throughout our conversation he points back to how God doesn't leave us to deal with shame alone. “The beautiful thing is Jesus isn't worried about our kids. He's not worried about your mothering. He's delighted. He knows how hard this work is and he knows that we will do it imperfectly. Even when we have our worst moments in which we foist to shame upon our kids or when our kids experience shame against everything that we're doing to try to combat it, God is saying: ‘I'm not worried. I never run out of options.'” Summer of Mentorship Discussion questions PDF Connect with Dr. Thompson: Website: https://curtthompsonmd.com Facebook: https://curtthompsonmd.com/ Instagram: @curt_thompson_md Links Mentioned: BOOK: The Soul of Shame BOOK: Anatomy of the Soul BOOK: The Soul of Desire: Discovering the Neuroscience of Longing, Beauty, and Community BOOK: The Deepest Place: Suffering and the Formation of Hope Featured Sponsors: Honeylove–Treat yourself to the most comfortable and innovative bras on earth and save 20% Off sitewide at honeylove.com/DMA Outschool–Get your family's first month for only $1 when you use our link: https://outschool.com/DMA and use code DMA at checkout. Thrive Causemetics–Maximize your look with minimal effort. Go to thrivecausemetics.com/DMA for an exclusive offer of 20% off your first order. Group Discussion Questions: Have you studied shame before? Were you familiar with what it does to our bodies? What was the last thing you felt shame about? How did it isolate you or disrupt a creative process? Talk through how a friend or spouse could help you walk out of a shame cycle (whether minor or major). Who are 2 or 3 women that could help you feel loved or speak truth back to you that “Jesus isn't surprised”? Discuss meeting your children in their shame and how we can rely on God in those moments.
Suffering's Transformative Power in Faith and Mental Health What if suffering isn't the enemy—but the doorway to beauty, connection, and hope? Psychiatrist Dr. Curt Thompson joins host Curtis Chang for a raw and redemptive conversation on how pain, anxiety, and fear of abandonment shape our lives and our faith. Grounded in both Scripture and neuroscience, this episode challenges the myths we carry about control and invites us into deeper attachment with God and others. (00:01) - Exploring Suffering and Transformation (11:30) - Exploring Suffering and Connection (12:45) - The Object of God's Glory and the Object of God's Wrath (25:09) - Embracing Suffering With Community and Compassion (36:57) - Inviting Healing and Transformation Through Suffering Drawing upon material from a past conversation, this episode provides ideas about emotional resilience and spiritual formation through suffering. Donate to Redeeming Babel Resources mentioned in this episode: Dr. Thompson's The Deepest Place: Suffering and the Formation of Hope Dr. Thompson's Anatomy of the Soul: Surprising Connections Between Neuroscience and Spiritual Practices That Can Transform Your Life and Relationships C.S. Lewis's The Voyage of the Dawn Treader C.S. Lewis's The Weight of Glory Scripture mentioned in this episode: Read Mark 10:35-40 (ESV) - Jesus' question to James and John Read Genesis 2:16-18 (ESV) - God tells the man He will surely die Read Genesis 1-3 (ESV) - The narrative of creation and fall, as the origins of suffering Read John 1:14 (ESV) - Jesus is God's glory Read Psalm 22 (ESV) - The Psalm quoted by Jesus in the Gethsemane More from Dr. Curt Thompson: Dr. Thompson's website Dr. Thompson's The Soul of Shame: Retelling the Stories We Believe About Ourselves Dr. Thompson's The Soul of Desire: Discovering the Neuroscience of Longing, Beauty, and Community Follow Us: Good Faith on Instagram Good Faith on X (formerly Twitter) Good Faith on Facebook Sign up: Redeeming Babel Newsletter
In today's podcast, we will dive into the topic of spiritual maturity. In the fast-paced world we live in, it's easy to get caught up in the busyness of life and neglect our spiritual growth - or maybe even more to the point, neglect growing a mature spirituality. Today, we'll explore what spiritual maturity truly means, why it's essential for our overall well-being, and how it can positively impact our relationships with others and with God. We'll be drawing insights from leading experts in the field, such as Peter Scazarro, Jenna Riemersma, Curt Thompson, and Lisa Miller, who have been exploring the intersection between good mental health and spirituality.
Psychiatrist, author and speaker Dr. Curt Thompson explores why true discipleship isn't scalable—and why that's the point. Drawing from neuroscience, church history, and the life of Jesus, he challenges the obsession with mass growth and spotlights the transformative power of small, intentional communities.Listen to the full episode here:SpotifyApple----------------------Do you ever struggle with how to share your faith with those who won't walk into a church?Ben has completely revised and updated his powerful book, Jesus in the Secular World: Reaching a Culture in Crisis—a must-read guide for anyone longing to reach those who may never step foot in a church. Packed with real-world insights and practical strategies, this book could be the breakthrough you've been searching for.Don't wait—get your copy today!Click HERE to check it out on Amazon.For more information go to: jesusinthesecularworld.com------------------------Questions, comments, or feedback? We'd love to hear what you think! Send them to provokeandinspire@steiger.org, or send us a message on Instagram.Click HERE to receive news, thought-provoking articles, and stories directly in your inbox from Ben, David, Luke, and Chad!Click below to follow the regulars on Instagram!Ben PierceDavid PierceChad JohnsonLuke GreenwoodSend us a text
What is shame? How does evil use shame against us, and what does healing look like? Dr. Curt Thompson explores shame through the lens of Scripture, neuroscience, and spiritual formation in community. Stay until the end to hear how Jesus meets us in our shame. What a beautiful conversation!Dr. Curt Thompson is a compassionate psychiatrist who weaves together an understanding of interpersonal neurobiology (IPNB) and a Christian view of what it means to be human. Through Curt's workshops, books, private clinical practice, and other platforms, he helps people fully experience our deepest longing: to be known. Learn more at curtthompsonmd.comMore resources by Curt Thompson:The Being Known PodcastConfessional CommunitiesThe Soul Of Shame (book)All books by Curt ThompsonSupport the showTake the Husband Material Journey... Step 1: Listen to this podcast or watch on YouTube Step 2: Join the private Husband Material Community Step 3: Take the free mini-course: How To Outgrow Porn Step 4: Try the all-in-one program: Husband Material Academy Thanks for listening!
In today's podcast, I'll explore what emotional maturity truly means, what it looks like in action, why it's so incredibly important, and how we can all cultivate more of it in our lives. I'll be drawing from authors like Dan Siegel, Jenna Riemersma, Brad Reedy, Curt Thompson, and Peter Scazzaro, who have dedicated their lives to understanding emotional health and its deep connection to our spiritual well-being. Emotionally Healthy Spirituality: It's Impossible to Be Spiritually Mature, While Remaining Emotionally ImmatureAltogether You: Experiencing personal and spiritual transformation with Internal Family Systems therapy Anatomy of the Soul: Surprising Connections between Neuroscience and Spiritual Practices That Can Transform Your Life and RelationshipsThe Audacity to Be You: Learning to Love Your Horrible, Rotten SelfThe Journey of the Heroic Parent: Your Child's Struggle & The Road Home
What story do you believe you're living in? Friend, your answer to that question could not be more important.Learning to tell the truest version of my story to empathetic listeners has healed my heart after so much breaking. A decade and a half of this work has helped me integrate the hurt with the hope, and God's goodness with his mystery. Today I'm sitting down with the person who taught me how to start telling that story years and years ago—Dr. Curt Thompson.Dr. Thompson is a renowned psychiatrist, author, and speaker who brings together the wisdom of neuroscience and spiritual formation to help people (like me!) understand and re-narrate their lives. In this episode we'll cover:Discovering your suffering in the context of communityAllowing Jesus to access our entire selvesSuffering can be redefined even when it isn't resolvedTransforming your anger into something usefulBecoming the empathetic listener that other people needIf you want to be transformed by your suffering but need some support in making that happen, this conversation is for you.Show Notes:The GoodHard Podcast Episode 71 with Dan Allender - https://pod.link/1496882479/episode/127f135d0f8f4b67fd2d4b5de256ad7cMake Sense of Your Story: Why Engaging Your Past with Kindness Changes Everything - https://a.co/d/6XHzUiJScriptures referenced in this episode:John 16:33Mark 5:25-342 Corinthians 4:16Deuteronomy 8***There's so much more to the story. For more messages of hope, free resources, and opportunities to connect with me, visit https://hopeheals.com/katherine.Follow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hopeheals/Subscribe to The GoodHard Story Podcast!Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/good-hard-story-podcast/id1496882479Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0OYz6G9Q2tNNVOX9YSdmFb?si=043bd6b10a664bebWant a little hope in your inbox? Sign up for the Hope Note, our twice-a-month digest of only the good stuff, like reflections from Katherine and a curated digest of the Internet's most redemptive content: https://hopeheals.com/hopenoteGet to know us:Hope Heals: https://hopeheals.com/Hope Heals Camp: https://hopeheals.com/campMend Coffee: https://www.mendcoffee.org/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hopeheals/
This is our unabridged interview with Kristin Neff. Is high self-esteem crucial to human flourishing, or, rather, a hindrance? “The biggest problem with self-esteem is that it tends to be contingent,” says Kristin Neff. “We only feel good about ourselves when we succeed.” Far too often, high self-esteem breeds narcissism, bullying, and prejudice. Kristin is a professor of Educational Psychology at the University of Texas at Austin. She's also a prominent expert on the topic of self-compassion, which her research has found to be much more effective than self-esteem in helping people flourish. In this episode, she shares what makes self-compassion different from self-esteem, how to cultivate it, and how it can help us to flourish amidst stress, suffering, and everyday life. We also hear briefly from psychiatrist and author Curt Thompson illuminating the negative neurobiological effects of shame while Kristen explains how self compassion can remedy these effects. Show Notes Resources: Self-Compassion by Kristin Neff Fierce Self-Compassion by Kristin Neff Self-Compassion.org Why Self-Compassion Works Better than Self-Esteem Similar episodes: Tara Brach Judith Moskowitz Alfie Kohn Curt Thompson Want more NSE? Join NSE+ Today! Our subscriber only community with bonus episodes designed specifically to help you live a good life, ad-free listening, and early access to tickets to our live shows. Great Feeling Studios, the team behind No Small Endeavor and other award-winning podcasts, helps nonprofits and brands tell stories that inspire action. If your organization has a message that deserves to be heard, start your podcast at helpmemakeapodcast.com. Subscribe to episodes: Apple | Spotify | Amazon | Google | YouTubeFollow Us: Instagram | Twitter | Facebook | YouTubeFollow Lee: Instagram | TwitterJoin our Email List: nosmallendeavor.com See Privacy Policy: Privacy Policy Amazon Affiliate Disclosure: Tokens Media, LLC is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising progra… Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices
We did it—500 episodes! Today, we're celebrating this incredible milestone by taking a look back at the conversations that have shaped us, stretched us, and stayed with us. From unforgettable guests who made us laugh, to powerful lessons that changed the way we think and lead—this episode is a tribute to the moments that mattered most. We're sharing the episodes we return to again and again… and the ones you keep talking about too. Whether you've been with us from the beginning or just found us recently, this 500th episode is a celebration of the journey we've taken together. Come celebrate with us! LIST OF FAVORITE EPISODE John Mark Comer - The Secret to Enoying Your Life 5 Episodes That I Think of Often 388 How Boundaries Help Us Get What We Really Want for Christmas with Sasha Shillcut (people are upset when you establish new boundaries bc they benefitted from your lack of boundaries or are resentful they didn't maintain the same boundary) 444 Love, Pray, Listen, Parenting Young Adults with Mary DeMuth (emphasis on maintaining relationship) 266 Our Relationship With Alcohol with Jenn Kautsch (Her own story of determining alcohol was no longer serving her) 376 Midlife Is No Joke: The Big Questions in Midlife (The things that used to work no longer do) 332 This Cultural Moment: Facing Reality with Jen Oshman (On being an informed citizen with boundaries) Krista Inheritance Gone Right with Sean and Jill Maher Helping your young adult kids find their career path with Tyler Lafferty The Soul of Shame with Dr Curt Thompson Midlife is no joke - The big questions in midlife with Kelly Flanagan Resilient Faith with Jerry Sittser 5 Guests I Won't Forget 181 Kay Warren on Depression and Anxiety 377 Midlife Is No Joke: Marriage with Jimmy and Irene Rollins 310 Moving Through Grief and Loss at Christmas with Nancy Hicks David Thomas —> 274 Parenting Teens: Navigating Emotions & 165 Parenting in the New Year 261 Katherin Wolff on Suffering Krista Parenting Young Adult Children with Dr Jim Burns Seven Surprising Ways to Rest with Dr Saundra Dalton Candace Cameron Bure Jackie Green and Lauren McAfee - how to be a person of legacy What Healthy Relationships do and don't have with Gary Thomas 5 Episodes Where I've Implemented Something I Learned 446 Styling Fashion Over 40 with Julie Powell and Krista Olufson 437 Jumpstarting Your Midlife Health with Megan Dahlman 414 Beat the Frumpy - on fashion with Jammie Baker 312 The Healthy Way: Productivity and Habits with Tanya Dalton 430 The Art and Heart of Holiday Gathering with Anna Watson Carl Krista Ep 493 Experience God, Really with John Eldredge - quote + God being “right here” in you + pausing + day, week, month year plan for renewal Lead your mindset with Emily Love The Secret to Success with Jeff Henderson Mental Training for Your Athlete and Yourself with Trisha Kroll Healthy Relationships 101 with John Townsend 5 Episodes That Brought Me Joy (It was all about the guests) 455 & 456 Building a Lasting Legacy with Rick and Diane Thomas 445 Maximizing Your Look with Rebecca Reid, Color Analyst 326 The Brain Game: The Soul of Shame with Dr. Curt Thompson 305 The Family Legacy Series with Eric Peterson 95 Sally Clarkson Krista Cultivating a Marriage that Lasts with Dan Allender The Secret to being instantly understood with John Trent Lisa Bevere - b/c she's awesome Kate Merrick - b/c there's no one like Kate and it's a moving story of faith Edie Littlefield Sundby - Movement heals the body 5 Episodes Others Have Talked About 421 & 422: What I've Noticed About You: Our Keys to Longterm Friendship 373: A Busy Mom's Guide to Photo Organization with Casey Von Stein 469: Who Am I If? 378 Midlife is No Joke: Menopause with Dr. Carol Tanksley 472: Faith-Driven Voters: Questions We Ask as We Cast Our Ballots With Kaitlyn Schess Krista How to feel the feels with Aundi Kobler Fighting for Family with Julie and Chris Bennett DISC your way to better relationships How to incorporate meaningful rituals into milestone birthdays Innovation and creativity - two secrets to living life well with Ken Wytsma She's Re-launching - most recent episode on going back to work SPOTIFY LINK TO THE PLAYLIST OF EPISODES WE MENTION A FEW THINGS MENTIONED Books Sacred Marriage- Gary Thomas Sacred Parenting- Gary Thomas And She Still Laughs- Kate Merrick The Mission Walker- Edie Littlefield Sundby Doing Life with Your Adult Children: Keep Your Mouth Shut and the Welcome Mat Out - Jim Burns Try softer-Aundi kolber LET'S CONNECT! Did you like this episode? Let us know and leave a review on itunes or share it with a friend. Or message us on Instagram – we'd love to hear from you! Get the Daily Dozen Checklist -12 habits that will immediately make you happier and healthier
In today's episode, we sit down with Dr. Curt Thompson to explore the complex relationship between anxiety, trauma, and the stories we tell ourselves. We discuss how feelings of anxiety and aloneness are intertwined, how trauma affects the brain, and the powerful role of secure relationships and community in healing. Dr. Thompson also shares practical steps for understanding and moving through anxiety, breaking free from isolation, and reconnecting with others and with God. Plus, we dive into the impact of spiritual practices like prayer and Scripture meditation in calming the mind and grounding us in peace. Don't miss this enlightening conversation!Resources:Dr. Curt's WebsiteDr. Curt's BooksThe Center For Being Known GET STARTEDFree eBook: 7 Keys To Understanding Betrayal TraumaFree eBook: 5 Steps to Freedom From PornSchedule Your Free 15-Minute Counseling ConsultationJoin A Pure Desire Online Group SOCIALSFollow us on FacebookFollow us on InstagramFollow us on X (Twitter)
What if the way you pay attention is shaping who you're becoming? What if your deepest fears of being abandoned—whether real or anticipated—are keeping you locked in patterns of anxiety, shame, and self-protection? Today, Dr. Curt Thompson joins us to unpack the profound ways our minds and relationships shape our formation. We're talking about anticipated abandonment, the neuroscience of attachment, and how to cultivate rugged flexibility in the face of life's uncertainties. Dr. Thompson, a psychiatrist and expert in interpersonal neurobiology, reveals how the way we focus our attention—consciously or not—rewires our brains and forms our identity. If you've ever felt stuck in relational wounds or struggled to trust God and others, this conversation is for you. In this episode, we discuss: Why anticipated abandonment keeps us stuck in fear and self-protection The neuroscience behind shame and relational wounds How rugged flexibility helps us navigate pain without losing hope Why we become what we pay attention to—and how to shift our focus for transformation This is a deep, thought-provoking conversation that will challenge how you see yourself, your relationships, and your faith. Episode Links Show Notes Buy my NEW BOOK "Healing What You Can't Erase" here! Invite me to speak at your church or event. • • Connect with me @WINTODAYChris on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube.
Do you find yourself struggling to follow Jesus when your wounds are exposed? Join Dr. Curt Thompson as he shares how we find life when we see our wounds differently, identifying with Christ.
Toxic ruptures don't just happen in a single moment of conflict—they are built over time through miscommunication, emotional wounds, and the silent grip of shame. Whether it's an argument that lingers long after words have been spoken, a past hurt that keeps replaying in our minds, or a pattern of avoidance that slowly erodes trust, these ruptures are reinforced by both our interactions and our inner world. In this episode, we dive deep into how toxic ruptures are created, not just between people, but within our own brains. We'll explore the neuroscience behind why conflict feels overwhelming, how our nervous system's response can make repair more difficult, and why shame keeps us stuck in cycles of blame, avoidance, or emotional withdrawal. You'll learn how unprocessed shame distorts our perception of others, fuels resentment, and makes us more likely to repeat the same destructive patterns in relationships. Most importantly, we'll uncover practical strategies to stop toxic ruptures before they spiral out of control. From rewiring our emotional responses and breaking free from rumination to approaching difficult conversations with presence and repair, this episode will help you shift from unconscious creation to intentional healing. If you've ever felt trapped in recurring conflict or emotional disconnection, this is your guide to understanding the deeper layers of toxic ruptures—and finally learning how to heal them. * * * Episode Links and References Psalm 41:9 The Great Divorce by C.S. Lewis The Soul of Shame by Curt Thompson, MD Alan Schore Dan Siegel - Flipping Your Lid . . . . . Stay connected: Instagram, Facebook YouTube (Unedited videos of each episode AND the Post Show Conversation.) Please subscribe to the podcast so you never miss an episode and we always welcome your reviews on Apple Podcasts. Sign up to access the Being Known Podcast applications, the weekly exercises that connect what you are learning to your life in a practical way.
In this episode, Jennie Allen sits down once again with Dr. Curt Thompson. They dive deep into the connection between our thoughts, emotions, and relationships, exploring how true transformation comes not just from "stopping spirals" but from deep attachment and connection with God and others. He challenges the idea that we can simply "think our way out" of struggles and instead reveals how co-regulation, secure relationships, and community are essential to emotional and spiritual health. This conversation is rich, thought-provoking, and filled with wisdom on how to rewrite the stories we tell ourselves, combat shame, and truly rest in the love of God. Key Takeaways: You are not alone in your struggles – healing happens in relationships, not isolation. Spiritual growth is about attachment – we were designed for connection with God and others. Your story matters – bringing hidden parts of yourself into the light leads to true transformation. Faith isn't just about the future – God is preparing us now for the life to come. This is a conversation you don't want to miss! Plus, hear why Curt and Jennie are passionate about partnering with Compassion International to support children and families in need. Sponsor a child today → Text JENNIE to 83393 or visit compassion.com/madeforthis. PLUS - we are picking ONE friend from this Season who sponsors a child to join our team on a trip this fall to Peru!! HELPFUL LINKS • Grab a copy of Stop The Spiral for this season! • Get your tickets to Gather in Dallas at https://www.jennieallen.com/gathertickets CONNECT ON SOCIALS: Instagram | YouTube | Facebook | TikTok | Pinterest Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
In this episode of The Being Known Podcast, Curt Thompson, MD and Pepper Sweeney explore the increasing societal fragility and its impact on our ability to repair relational ruptures. They discuss how diminished resilience and imagination hinder our capacity to connect, drawing insights from biblical narratives and interpersonal neurobiology. This conversation addresses the challenges posed by social divisions, the concept of "othering," and the importance of community in fostering healing and restoration. They invite you, the listener, to reflect on your own experiences of rupture and repair, considering the role of faith and community in navigating these challenges. Episode Links and References John 16:33 1 Peter 5:10 . . . . . Stay connected: Instagram, Facebook YouTube (Unedited videos of each episode AND the Post Show Conversation.) Please subscribe to the podcast so you never miss an episode and we always welcome your reviews on Apple Podcasts. Sign up to access the Being Known Podcast applications, the weekly exercises that connect what you are learning to your life in a practical way.
In this powerful live episode of the Being Known Podcast, Dr. Curt Thompson, Amy Cella, and Pepper Sweeney dive into the theme of "rupture and repair." This entire season we are exploring how brokenness impacts our relationships, imagination, and sense of self. Through stories, neuroscience, and biblical reflections, we'll discuss how repairing even small ruptures can lead to greater resilience, beauty, and connection. Join the conversation on naming our longings, addressing unresolved pain, and embracing the transformative work of healing in community. This episode kicks off a season dedicated to helping us imagine—and incarnate—a future of hope and wholeness. . . . . . Stay connected: Instagram, Facebook YouTube (Unedited videos of each episode AND the Post Show Conversation.) Please subscribe to the podcast so you never miss an episode and we always welcome your reviews on Apple Podcasts. Sign up to access the Being Known Podcast applications, the weekly exercises that connect what you are learning to your life in a practical way.