Podcasts about Genuine

Have you ever reached that point where you've tried everything, but nothing seems to change — when frustration turns into hopelessness, and giving up feels easier than holding on? Maybe you've found yourself wondering:  “Why do I keep feeling stuck no matter what I do?” “How do I stop repeating the same painful patterns?” “Why does life feel like one invisible roadblock after another?” In this heart-opening episode, Brandy Gillmore shares profound insights into what's really happening beneath those moments of frustration — and how to shift from exhaustion and despair into awareness, empowerment, and hope. You'll discover how to recognize and transform the subconscious emotional patterns that quietly shape your life, so you can begin to feel lighter, clearer, and more in control. When giving up feels easier than holding on, this episode will remind you just how powerful you truly are. Key insights from this episode: Learn to recognize repeating emotional patterns Why surrender or “trying harder” often doesn't work The mindset shift that reignites hope and healing If you've been asking, “How do I stop feeling hopeless?” — tune in now for clarity, inspiration, and tools to help you reconnect with your true power.

Are you feeling exhausted by the endless content creation treadmill, using AI to pump out even more posts while your soul feels increasingly disconnected from your business? Do you sense that something fundamental is shifting in how we approach visibility and marketing, but can't quite put your finger on what's coming next? What if the real problem isn't that you need to create more content faster, but that you're performing success rather than embodying it?In this episode, I explore the shadow patterns playing out as businesses adopt AI, why churning out twice as much content in half the time is amplifying burnout rather than solving it, and what I foresee emerging in 2026-2027 that will fundamentally change how we think about visibility and impact. I unpack why the argument about "real vs. fake" AI usage is just artificial polarization, and reveal how finding your unique style, rather than replicating guru templates, will become the only way to create meaningful impact in an increasingly noisy world.BY THE TIME YOU FINISH LISTENING TO THIS EPISODE, YOU'LL DISCOVER:Why using AI to double your content output is actually amplifying the pattern of soul exhaustion rather than solving your visibility challenges, and how the being behind the business, not the volume of content, determines your true impact and sustainability.The artificial polarization trap where people draw fake lines in the sand about AI usage (like accepting AI for writing but rejecting it for visuals), and why this performative stance misses the real issue of intentionality versus automation in how we show up.Why the guru culture of "look at me, I sold this much" and cookie-cutter marketing templates is already falling away, and how developing your unique style through internal work and patient mastery will become essential for creating impact in 2026-2027 and beyond.How to recognize when you're performing success through rigid posting schedules and platform-hopping versus creating from genuine intentionality, and why questioning the way we use channels, not the channels themselves, reveals the path to business that actually feels good behind the scenes.And while you're here, follow us on Instagram @creativelyowned for more daily inspiration on effortlessly attracting the most aligned clients without spending hours marketing your business or chasing clients. Also, make sure to tag me in your stories @creativelyowned.Selling the Invisible: Exactly how to articulate the value of your cosmic genius even if your message transcends the typical “10k months” & “Make 6-figures” types of promises. Free on-demand training >>> https://www.creativelyowned.co/watchnow To find out how to own your unique edge, amplify who you truly are (& get paid for it), take your business to cosmic proportions, and have fun doing it, grab it here!! https://www.creativelyowned.com/quizOffer Architect: TURN YOUR ‘INVISIBLE' WISDOM INTO A COMPELLING OFFER THAT WILL SELL WITH A SINGLE EMAIL. >>>https://creativelyowned.com/offer-architectJoin the waitlist for the Selling the Invisible AI-Powered Conversion Copywriting System and be the first in line when the doors open again! >>>https://www.creativelyowned.co/waitlist

Prince Andrew - the royal problem that just won't go away - has done just that, by giving up his royal titles. So, Amelia Lester and Claire Murphy join our royal correspondent Holly Wainwright to try understand - why now? Plus, does high fashion actually hate women? From a dress that looks more like a cocoon, to an ensemble that includes a mask covering Kim Kardashian's entire face and a corset so tight your body actually spills out of it, it begs the question, who exactly is buying it? And, in Gwyneth-adjacent news, a new Netflix series is letting famous people have the last word from beyond the grave. So if you could have the last word, what would you say? Support independent women's media What To Listen To Next: Listen to our latest episode: The Friends Vs Family Trap & We're All Rapunzel Now Listen: What Did You Do Yesterday? Listen: "A Comedian Hurt My Feelings" Listen: Every Thought We Had About The Victoria Beckham Documentary Listen: The Victoria Beckham Documentary Is Hard To Watch Listen: The New High Status Boyfriend Listen: The Problem With Compliments Listen: The Couple Who Need To Stay Away From Each Other Listen: What Does King Charles Do With A Problem Like Prince Andrew? Connect your subscription to Apple Podcasts Discover more Mamamia Podcasts here including the very latest episode of Parenting Out Loud, the parenting podcast for people who don't listen to... parenting podcasts. Watch Mamamia Out Loud: Mamamia Out Loud on YouTube What to read: Genuine question... does fashion hate women? The one question everyone is asking after Prince Andrew and King Charles' 'discussion.' What does Virginia Giuffre's death mean for Prince Andrew? A heist at the Louvre. Missing jewels. And a getaway straight out of a film. Alex Cooper asked Kim Kardashian everything we've quietly wondered. We pulled the answers. It’s official. These are the 10 iconic moments that completely changed the way we dressed. THE END BITS: Check out our merch at MamamiaOutLoud.com Mamamia studios are styled with furniture from Fenton and Fenton GET IN TOUCH: Feedback? We’re listening. Send us an email at outloud@mamamia.com.au Share your story, feedback, or dilemma! Send us a voice message. Join our Facebook group Mamamia Outlouders to talk about the show. Follow us on Instagram @mamamiaoutloud and on Tiktok @mamamiaoutloud Mamamia acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the Land we have recorded this podcast on, the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation. We pay our respects to their Elders past and present, and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures. Become a Mamamia subscriber: https://www.mamamia.com.au/subscribeSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Faith is more than belief—it's action. In this message from James 2:14–26, we're reminded that genuine faith produces tangible works of love and obedience. In a culture that often separates words from deeds, James challenges believers to embody their faith through compassion, generosity, and courage. From Abraham's obedience to Rahab's risky hospitality, we see that true faith always moves—toward God and toward others. Grace changes our hearts, but faith makes that change visible. As Craig Keener said, “Genuine faith is a reality on which one stakes one's life, not merely passive assent to a doctrine.” ______________________________________________________________________________________ NEW HERE? We'd love to connect with you. Text "NEW" to 323-405-3232 SERMON NOTES: www.bible.com/organizations/f223…-a8fc-3297da42c26a - Or Text: "SERMON" To: 323-405-3232 CONNECT WITH US: Hopeland Website: www.hopelandla.com Hopeland Podcast: @steinbot-519314947 Hopeland YouTube: www.youtube.com/@hopelandchurch Hopeland Facebook: @hopelandla Hopeland Instagram: @hopeland.church To support this ministry and help us continue to reach people with the gospel click here: hopelandla.com/give Or, choose a giving option here: - Venmo: @Hopeland-Church - CashApp: $HopelandChurch - Zelle: shawn@hopelandla.com - Text "Hopeland" to 833-767-5698

This is episode 14 of INNER REVOLUTION - a podcast series where we walk through the fire of inner transformation and awakening together. The purpose of this series is to help you shed ANYTHING AND EVERYTHING that isn't a true reflection of Who You Really Are, so you can fully embody your Divinity, Light, and Sacred Mission. In this 14th installment, we'll discuss how we can use the spiritual path for genuine healing while avoiding spiritual bypassing.  Join me for this episode on: what is spiritual bypassing? with specific examples of how it might show up the dangers & pitfalls of using spirituality to try to numb, escape from, avoid, ignore, or bypass reality the dangers of looking too quickly for a "silver lining" in our human challenges and experiences integrating your spirituality into daily life in grounded, practical, tangible ways  setting clear intentions for HOW & WHY we use spiritual tools, practices, and concepts   ******* You're lovingly invited to join my email community and get access to my free Akashic Records Mini Course + weekly newsletter: https://josephinehardman.com/akashic-records-intro/ Explore the next round of my Akashic Records Certification Program: https://josephinehardman.com/work-with-me/akashic-records-certification-program/ Connect through my website: https://josephinehardman.com Thank you for being here, doing your inner work, and leading the way for others with your light. It makes a difference! Music & editing by G. Demers Inner Work 2025 All Rights Reserved.

Building Authentic Connections: Daniel Andrews on Friendship, Hospitality, and Low-Barrier NetworkingIn this episode of The Thoughtful Entrepreneur, host Josh Elledge talks with Daniel Andrews, serial entrepreneur, connector, and mentor, about transforming both personal and professional relationships through authenticity and intentional hospitality. Daniel shares how small, simple actions—like inviting people over for dinner or scheduling short, genuine networking calls—can create powerful, lasting connections. His approach replaces the pressure of traditional networking with openness, generosity, and genuine curiosity, helping people connect more meaningfully in an increasingly digital world.Building Relationships Through Simplicity and HospitalityDaniel Andrews believes that hospitality is not about perfection but presence—making people feel seen, valued, and welcomed. He and his wife regularly host dinners to strengthen friendships, emphasizing that consistency and simplicity make connection sustainable. Whether in business or personal life, Daniel says hospitality creates space for trust, conversation, and belonging.Beyond hosting, Daniel encourages using technology to remove barriers to connection. He creatively uses Calendly for dinner invites, allowing friends to pick a convenient date and eliminating the friction of group planning. His philosophy: make it easy for people to say “yes” by lowering the stakes and setting clear expectations.Daniel also applies these principles to business networking. Instead of formal sales meetings, he prefers 20-minute, no-pressure “get-to-know-you” calls that prioritize relationship-building over pitching. He calls introductions the “currency of trust,” explaining that when you thoughtfully connect two people, you share your credibility and strengthen all three relationships. For Daniel, connection is not about collecting contacts—it's about building a network of genuine, mutually beneficial relationships.About Daniel AndrewsDaniel Andrews is a seasoned entrepreneur, mentor, and relationship builder who champions authentic connection in both business and life. Known for his thoughtful approach to hospitality and low-barrier networking, Daniel has helped countless leaders and entrepreneurs strengthen relationships, expand their communities, and find deeper fulfillment through intentional connection.Links Mentioned in This EpisodeDaniel Andrews on LinkedInKey Episode HighlightsHospitality is about presence, not perfectionUse simple tools like Calendly to make invitations and connections effortlessBoundaries make connection easier, not harderReplace transactional networking with short, intentional conversationsThoughtful introductions build credibility and long-term trustConsistency and low-pressure gatherings are key to lasting relationshipsConclusionDaniel Andrews reminds us that meaningful connection doesn't require grand gestures—it starts with small acts of intentionality. By simplifying invitations, embracing hospitality, and focusing on authenticity over perfection, we can nurture relationships that enrich both business and life. Genuine networking isn't about volume; it's about trust, presence, and care.

Genuine friendship is built upon a foundation of mutual love, respect, and commitment.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The journey to mastery is rarely linear. It's a winding road paved with dedication, resilience, and countless hours of practice.  Embracing the truth behind mastery reveals a profound truth: there are no shortcuts to success. Genuine achievement is built on persistence, not just desire.  In this episode, we'll explore why taking the time to learn, grow, and ultimately master a skill holds the key to lasting success and why there are truly no shortcuts on the path to greatness.

On Today’s Show: 00:00:00  Introduction 00:00:00  Wednesday Movie Matinee 00:18:14 QuantumSquares.Com Get 25% Off With Promo Code FREAK 00:38:04  Introduction 02:07:18  Today’s DV Listener Sponsor: Brandon! 03:06:17  What Is your Masturbation Number? 06:27:00  Tim Henson Fit N’ Lean 10:39:13  Big Douche Is Watching My Appliance Usage  15:30:04  Trans-Wheelchair User Tips And Tricks 19:48:22  Andrew Cuomo […] The post Artificial Intelligence, Genuine Erection first appeared on Distorted View Daily.

G'day, mates!Dive into the latest episode of the G'day Gridiron podcast, where we tackle the wild happenings of Week 6 in the NFL.From unexpected coach firings to thrilling game highlights, we've got it all covered.Join Ian, Brad and Isaac as they chat with special guest Alex from the MatesRates podcast, who tells us about her journey in the women's game in Australia and goes through some GENUINE fan reactions from Aussie NFL Fans!Whether you're a die-hard fan or just love a good yarn, this episode's got something for everyone.Don't miss out—tune in now and join the convo!----> CHECK OUT THE MATES RATES AF PODCAST!https://open.spotify.com/show/1FYBXrs4iZdtnMgvwJanxi?si=c1417db5c21841c3#Gridiron #NFL #AussieFootball #MatesRatesAF

In this episode of The Heart of Law, host Mirena Umizaj Dumas sits down with Kimball Jones, Managing Partner at Bighorn Law in Las Vegas, to explore what it truly takes to operate at the top of the legal profession. Kimball shares his extraordinary journey, from humble beginnings and a career in military intelligence to becoming one of the most successful trial lawyers in the country, best known for securing multiple nine-figure verdicts, including a $550 million single-plaintiff win. Together, they explore: • The mindset and discipline behind courtroom success • Growth through adversity and lessons from loss • Balancing family, health, and high-stakes litigation • What truly separates great trial lawyers from the rest This conversation offers a rare glimpse into the psychology of a high-performing litigator and the heart behind his relentless pursuit of justice. Key Takeaways: • Authenticity wins trials: Genuine connection with juries is everything • Growth through adversity: How one major loss reshaped Kimball's approach • Preparation is power: Strategy and discipline drive every major verdict • Success isn't just money: Fulfillment comes from purpose and legacy • Family & health matter: Personal strength sustains professional excellence About Our Guest: Kimball Jones is Managing Partner at Bighorn Law and one of Nevada's most decorated trial lawyers. A U.S. Army veteran and former intelligence officer, Kimball is known for record-breaking verdicts, including three nine-figure awards in less than a year. He earned his law degree from BYU Law School, graduating with academic honors, and is driven by a deep sense of purpose in advocating for real people. Outside the courtroom, Kimball is a dedicated husband and father of four. Links from the Episode: • Learn more about Kimball Jones & Bighorn Law: www.bighornlaw.com • Connect with Mirena and Company: https://mirenaandco.com  

If you've ever struggled with self-love or battled your harsh inner critic, join me for this conversation with relationship expert Dr. Margaret Paul.Dr. Paul explains her powerful Inner Bonding® self-healing process, a six-step pathway to heal self-judgment,reconnect with your true self, break free from old patterns and heal your relationship with yourself.Key Takeaways:Self-Healing Begins Within: External achievements, relationships, or validation can't heal old wounds. Genuine healing starts by building a loving relationship with yourself and uncovering the false beliefs you've absorbed over time.Recognizing Self-Abandonment: Many of us unknowingly repeat patterns from our upbringing, including self-judgment, staying stuck in our heads, numbing emotions, or making others responsible for our feelings. Noticing these behaviors is the first step to real change.The Power of Intentional Self-Love: Shifting your intention from controlling outcomes to learning how to love yourself is transformative. When you are filled with love from within, you naturally improve your relationships and well-being.Highlights 05:49 Healing Beyond Trauma08:38 Self-Abandonment 16:24 Self-Care and Inner Bonding29:04 Elevating Your LifeImportant Links

“Godly sorrow worketh repentance.” — 2 Corinthians 7:10 Genuine, spiritual mourning for sin is the work of the Spirit of God. Repentance is too choice a flower to grow in nature's garden. Pearls grow naturally in oysters, but penitence never shows itself in sinners except divine grace works it in them. If thou hast one […]

What's the difference between following Jesus and being a Christian? Genuine discipleship means dying daily to selfish desires and embracing a new identity in Christ. This isn't about working harder. It's about surrendering further and letting the Spirit transform us from within. Listen now and be inspired to embrace daily surrender that brings rest and freedom.

On today's Take 2 with Jerry & Debbie our topic is: Can You Tell When Someone is Genuine or Not?

If you want a contagious business quality to help grow your business, then try your hand at displaying genuine enthusiasm. Customers crave authenticity, transparency, and truth from suppliers, and they can sense one they run into a phony. So when they run into someone who is genuinely enthusiastic, it goes a long way to creating a healthier business relationship.Support the show

“But He answered her not a word.” — Matthew 15:23 Genuine seekers who as yet have not obtained the blessing, may take comfort from the story before us. The Saviour did not at once bestow the blessing, even though the woman had great faith in Him. He intended to give it, but He waited awhile. […]

Employee engagement metrics have barely moved in over a decade, but what if we're measuring the wrong things? Nikki sits down with Joshua Freedman, CEO of Six Seconds and author of the soon-to-drop “Emotion Rules”. Together, they go deep on why engagement isn't about snacks in the breakroom or slick surveys. It's emotional, and it's human. They unpack why “leave emotions at the door” might be the worst business advice ever, what true caring leadership looks like, and how love, trust, and boundaries create high-performing cultures where people actually want to show up. If you're ready to trade performative leadership for authentic connection, this episode is your roadmap.

“But he would feed you with the finest of the wheat, and with honey from the rock I would satisfy you.” ‭- Psalm‬ ‭81‬:‭16‬ ‭ESV‬‬

Being a working mother means you're constantly switching gears, leading at work, nurturing at home, and trying to keep a little energy for yourself. It's no wonder your hormones can feel off-balance. The truth is, your hormones respond to the way you live your daily life, including your rest, nutrition, physical activity, and even your social connections, as outlined in the SPOKE model.Key Takeaways:The SPOKE ModelS – Stay Connected Nurture relationships that fill you up. Genuine connection lowers cortisol and boosts oxytocin — your natural stress reliever.P – Prioritise Rest Sleep is your nightly hormone reset. Aim for consistent rest so melatonin can do its job.O – Optimise Nutrition Fuel your body with real foods. Each meal helps balance insulin and other hormones naturally.K – Keep Moving Find joy in movement. A few minutes of walking or stretching can boost endorphins, regulate energy, and steady your mood.E – Eliminate ToxinsReduce exposure to chemicals in plastics, cleaners, and beauty products. Your liver and your hormones will thank you.CONNECT ON SOCIAL MEDIA ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Ig- ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/drdunni.lifecoach/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube- ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC9C1oJwHyISEuqiX8USaYKg⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠CH- ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.clubhouse.com/@drdunni-druwa⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠FB- ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/druwaacademy⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Twitter- ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://twitter.com/drdunni⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Patreon - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://patreon.com/wellbeing4mothers⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ HOST BIOYour host, Dr Dunni, is the award-winning mum empowerment coach, Family doctor, International speaker, Best-selling author of the book ‘Every Mum is a Super Mum' and a mum herself who is passionate about health and wellbeing. She is proficient in applying natural, scientific, and medical well-being concepts to explain practical ways and strategies in simple terms that promote the overall well-being of body, mind, soul, and spirit, and prevent ill health. This is made available by the provision of online courses, books, coaching and regular events where well-being strategies and tactics are shared to enhance holistic well-being. Learn more at https://www.drdunni.com

We talk a lot on this podcast about grit, about living on the edge of your comfort zone, about pushing yourself through the uncomfortable to grow. Today, we're going deeper. We're talking about what happens when the hustle and performance become masks, when we hide behind being “fine” instead of being seen for who we really are. This episode is about vulnerability, authenticity, and the courage to take that mask off. Growth doesn't happen when we're pretending to have it all together. It happens when we finally admit we don't and ask for help.Five Key Insights:Hiding Behind the Mask Keeps You StuckWe learn early to hide—covering our flaws, failures, and fears with a mask of “I'm fine.” But that mask becomes a trap. It isolates us, keeps us from real connection, and prevents true healing. Freedom begins when we take it off and allow ourselves to be seen. Vulnerability Is Strength, Not WeaknessAsking for help, admitting you're struggling, or saying “I don't have it all together” takes more courage than faking your way through. The real strength lies in owning your story, showing up authentically, and letting others in.Brotherhood Breaks IsolationWhen men have a safe place to be honest—like the Built for More community—everything changes. Growth happens when we can talk openly, call each other out in love, and walk through struggles together. Brotherhood builds freedom and accountability.The Hustle Can Become a Hiding PlaceSometimes busyness becomes another mask. We use the hustle to avoid our emotions, silence the pain, or postpone hard conversations. But staying busy isn't the same as being healthy. Healing starts when we stop hiding behind productivity and start facing what's really going on.Growth Lives on the Other Side of HonestyWhether it's journaling, reflection, or conversations with trusted people, being honest—with yourself and others—creates clarity. When you stop negotiating your non-negotiables and face the truth, your priorities realign, your mindset shifts, and transformation begins.One Truth:You can't grow while you're hiding. Real transformation begins the moment you take off the mask and let yourself be seen.

“But my people did not listen to my voice; Israel would not submit to me. So I gave them over to their stubborn hearts, to follow their own counsels.”- ‭‭Psalm‬ ‭81‬:‭11‬-‭12‬ ‭ESV‬‬

Copyright One Church Calvary - Murfreesboro, TN, 2025Support the show

Mark Twain once said that he could “live for two months on a good compliment.” Just like we need oxygen, food and water, we need encouragement and praise to be healthy. And as much as you may enjoy hearing a good word about yourself, kids truly thrive on encouragement and praise.Read PostParenting EbookOther Parenting PostsHarvest ConferencesJokes to share with kids

ALC Recommends: Small Group Teaching Videoshttps://www.youtube.com/@AbundantLifeChurchMedia1“I am the Lord your God, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt. Open your mouth wide, and I will fill it.”- ‭‭Psalm‬ ‭81‬:‭10‬ ‭ESV‬‬

Sunday English Sermon @ St. Mary & Archangel Michael Coptic Orthodox Church - Houston, TX ~ October 5, 2025 | Thoout 25, 1742

→ Prayer CalendarMotherhood is a gift but it can also come with a fair bit of struggles. In this episode, we tackle some of the most common and challenging questions that come up: from building genuine friendships, to navigating busyness and overstimulation, to healing from mom anger and much much more.Whether you're a first time mom or a seasoned vet, this episode is full of encouragement for young mothers who want some support and encouragement.Episode Highlights[00:00] Introduction[09:30] Reason, Season, & Life Friends[17:00] Mom AngerPlease send us your questions if you'd like to have them discussed on the podcast: themindofachildpodcast@gmail.com The Mind of a Child is an early child development podcast that exists to encourage and equip parents to raise their kids to love God and love others. If you're looking for Biblical principles, practical parenting solutions, and science-backed research, our discussions are specifically tailored for you. Our hosts are Leslie Dudley Corbell and Diane Doucet Matthews, who each have a combined 50+ years of experience in the early child parenting space.

The preaching of the gospel of Jesus Christ is met with both unbelief and belief. Unbelief in Jesus is more than indifference, it is opposition to him. Genuine belief in Jesus leads to faithfulness to him. Acts 4 exposes unbelief and calls for repentance. It also shows the kind of thinking and praying that keeps us boldly believing and proclaiming him. Grace Community Church exists to build spiritually healthy people for ministry in the world. One of the ways that we pursue this mission is by gathering each Sunday for corporate worship, prayer, and biblical teaching. The corporate nature of this gathering is both edifying to the believer and a witness of God's grace to the world. Sermon speaker is Scott Patty unless otherwise noted.

Episode 602This episode dives deep into the powerful and personal journey of Lisa Ekman, a former Democratic insider who reveals her dramatic shift in worldview, moving from progressive establishment advocate to fierce critic of authoritarian mandates, government control, and media censorship. Through candid conversation, she exposes the cracks in party dogma, the dangers of tribalism, and the dark side of political and public health narratives during the COVID-19 pandemic. The discussion explores her awakening, the psychological costs of abandoning lifelong beliefs, her new book "Deprogramming Democrats and Uneducating Elites: How I Escaped the Progressive Cult," and a scathing critique of the media, higher education, and the two-party system. This unsparing exchange is a must listen for anyone questioning the mainstream, yearning for honest debate, or seeking the courage to break free from groupthink.

Romans 12:9-11

After escaping one ambush in their hotel room and a second aboard the Buzzard Black, the crew of the Little Snail is finally preparing themselves for their climactic showdown with the deadly hitman, Genuine Sincere. They'll need the right location, the right gear, and the right magical protection. And then, of course, they'll need a little luck. This week on Perpetua: Sizzling Rivalry, Crashing Waves! 04 Perpetua Guide [In Progress v.04] NPCs & Monsters [PNMS] Genuine Sincere [NMGNS] Traits: Cold-Blooded, Bought, Veteran. Eagle-eyed Stats: DEX 10, INS 6, MIG 8, WLP 6 Attacks: Ancient Passikan Rifle Shot, Suppressive FIRE, COLD Snap, LIGHTNING Strikes Twice, A Shot in the DARK Special Abilities:  Countershot, Reinforcements, Take to the Sky (Crisis!) In-Game Description: Former colleague of Uncle Nicky. Veteran hitman in the service of....  As far as I'm concerned, this is the first real boss fight of the game, even if you're jumping between both West and East campaigns. The Kalsi fight has a potential “hard mode,” but you can stop it from even happening at all based on your choices. Genuine Sincere, on the other hand, will keep sniping at you until you finally fight him. (Though I am curious if the game ever forces a traditional fight with him, or if you can complete the whole campaign with him occasionally taking a potshot through your window. Anyone test this out yet?) All of that is to say: Come in prepared! First of all, keep any elemental weaknesses in mind (like Elena's weakness to bolt) because four out of the five attacks Genuine has are elemental in nature. Worse: He's the first enemy who can actively MAKE YOU WEAK to an element.  He can also debuff you in a number of different ways, so bring enough IP to Tonic your way through the fight if you need to. On top of all that he's a Villain and a Champion class enemy, so even if you try to grind to beat him, he's going to end up with a lot more HP than any one of your party members. Yikes. Oh, and did I mention, he isn't even alone? He starts the fight with a Hoodlum Mechanic [NMHMC] and a Gangster Killer [NMGKL] on his side, plus a (de)Activated BuilderBot [NMABB] that can be used against you if the Mechanic can get control of it. DON'T LET THAT HAPPEN. Starter Tip: As far as I can tell, you have three places you can confront Genuine in the city: The clock tower where he snipes you from as you enter (and when you're in the hotel.) The beach at Rose Shore (which is definitely the hardest, because of some enemies that can join from the sea). And one of the industrial buildings in Highrail. That last one is the hardest to setup, but BY FAR the easiest to win at. ESPECIALLY if you can manage to stop his “Reinforcements” ability to continually give him more Mechanics and Killers on his side! Hosted by Austin Walker (austinwalker.bsky.social) Featuring Ali Acampora (ali-online.bsky.social), Art Martinez-Tebbel (amtebbel.bsky.social), Jack de Quidt (notquitereal.bsky.social), and Andrew Lee Swan (swandre3000.bsky.social) Produced by Ali Acampora Music by Jack de Quidt (available on bandcamp) Cover Art by Ben McEntee (https://linktr.ee/benmce.art) With thanks to Amelia Renee, Arthur B., Aster Maragos, Bill Kaszubski, Cassie Jones, Clark, DB, Daniel Laloggia, Diana Crowley, Edwin Adelsberger, Emrys, Greg Cobb, Ian O'Dea, Ian Urbina, Irina A., Jack Shirai, Jake Strang, Katie Diekhaus, Ken George, Konisforce, Kristina Harris Esq, L Tantivy, Lawson Coleman, Mark Conner, Mike & Ruby, Muna A, Nat Knight, Olive Perry, Quinn Pollock, Robert Lasica, Shawn Drape, Shawn Hall, Summer Rose, TeganEden, Thomas Whitney, Voi, chocoube, deepFlaw, fen, & weakmint This episode was made with support from listeners like you! To support us, you can go to friendsatthetable.cash.

Amanda Goetz is a two-time founder, four-time CMO, and single mom of three who's helping ambitious people redefine what “having it all” actually looks like. She inspires over 150,000 readers each week through her Life's a Game newsletter and her new book, Toxic Grit: How to Have It All and Actually Love What You Have. In this conversation, Amanda shares a grounded, intentional approach to ambition—one that makes space for work, relationships, and personal growth without burning out. On this episode we talk about: Why Amanda believes ambition isn't toxic—it's lack of intention that is How to embrace “and” thinking instead of living life as an “either/or” equation The hidden cost of letting one identity (career, parent, partner) take over your life How to transition between roles, build hierarchy, and avoid constant guilt The five pillars of Amanda's “portfolio career” and how to start building one yourself Top 3 Takeaways The solution to overwork or burnout isn't quitting ambition—it's learning to balance all your “characters” with awareness and structure. A thriving career doesn't have to compete with family, purpose, or rest—it can coexist when you embrace the and. Genuine success comes from self-awareness and human connection—two things that automation and hustle culture can't replace. Notable Quotes “Life isn't an or statement—it's an and. You can chase goals and still build a life you love.” “Toxic grit happens when one character takes over the whole storyline of your life.” “You can't automate your way out of human connection.” ✖️✖️✖️✖️

Our best scientific models make it clear that society needs a big change at a global scale in order to limit irreversible damage—what good can individual actions and attitudes do in the face of this immense problem? Today's guest, Debra Rienstra, argues that the right relationship with the Earth can actually make all the difference and that new worlds of hope are built in hidden refuges amidst the surrounding devastation. Genuine lament and grief help reorient us toward the beauty and majesty of creation. Only once this groundwork has been laid can we truly repent for what we have done—and begin the work of hope for a better future.  Additional Resources: Learn more about Debra's book, Refugia Faith Sign up for the Refugia newsletter Find new episodes of Refugia Podcast Theme song and credits music by Breakmaster Cylinder. Other music in this episode by Pink Marble courtesy of Shutterstock, Inc.  This episode originally aired on Mar 10, 2022.

Have you ever noticed how the harder you push for results, the more frustrated and stuck you can feel? In this powerful episode, you'll see just how quickly that can shift. World-renowned mind-body and self-healing expert Brandy Gillmore works with a wonderful volunteer, Jen, who has been struggling with chronic pain, depression, and years of disappointment. Despite being incredibly smart and self-aware, Jen has felt stuck in cycles of self-criticism, blame, and frustration that were holding her back from healing. What unfolds is both moving and inspiring. As Brandy helps Jen uncover these hidden emotional patterns, her pain begins to release—and she realizes how quickly life can move in a whole new direction. You'll witness the incredible moment when Jen experiences a rapid transformation through the power of the mind-body connection. This episode goes far beyond one woman's story—it's a roadmap for anyone who has ever felt impatient with their healing process, stuck in old patterns, or frustrated with their results. Brandy reveals profound insights, including: Why highly intelligent people sometimes struggle more with healing—and how to break through. How frustration, stress, and impatience can actually slow down self-healing (and what to do instead). The transformative importance of self-love and subconscious reprogramming. A simple yet powerful shift that can move you from anger and disappointment into empowerment, positivity, and freedom. This is a beautiful reminder that true healing begins with the mind—and that each of us has the power to release pain and create rapid results in our health, happiness, and life.

Today I'm joined by the radiant Dalia Van Lom, a true content queen who helps visionary women entrepreneurs show up online with confidence, sparkle, and strategy. We first met at Create & Cultivate and instantly bonded over the importance of being fully expressed—not just in business, but also in love.Dalia is living proof that when you break free from old patterns, you can create the most epic love story. From growing up in Peru to navigating heartbreak and years of being single, she found her way back to herself, her roots, and ultimately, her dream partner. Now she helps women shine online with scroll-stopping reels, engaging videos, and content that actually attracts their dream clients—all while embodying the same authenticity and courage she brings to her marriage.This episode is for you if you've ever felt the tension between independence and intimacy, if you're wondering whether it's avoidance or intuition guiding you in love, or if you're ready to deepen your relationships by leaning into vulnerability, patience, and courage.✨ Get ready to learn how to:Stop confusing avoidance with soul guidance in relationshipsEmbrace your single era as a sacred resetMake conscious choices after that first date that change everythingUse the sacred pause to stop reacting and start responding with clarityBreak free from ancestral stories that keep you from loveLead with courage to rewrite toxic dynamics and experience deeper intimacyWhether you're an ambitious woman craving a conscious partner, or you're already in love and ready to grow together, this conversation will open your heart to what's possible.Timestamps:0:00 Introduction2:22 Genuine connections over transactional networking3:33 Dalia's first love story when she moved from Peru to America10:00 Is it avoidance or is your soul guiding you to take space away from a misaligned relationship?23:00 The 3-year single era that helped Dalia return to herself, reclaim her roots in Peru, and start fresh in San Diego30:50 The adorable love story of Dalia meeting her now husband through persistence and charm34:34 The conscious choices Dalia made after her first date with Brad that changed everything40:00 Brad's patience and Dalia's courage to move to Tulum solo while being happily married completely rewired their relationship dynamics from bickering to deep love43:34 If you date someone exactly like you—there's no room for growth48:00 Mastering the sacred pause stops you from reacting and helps you respond from clarity so you can experience deeper love51:25 How the stories of our ancestors can block us from leaning into love53:25 One partner always has to be the courageous one to go first and break the toxic dynamics if you want to heal, grow, and thrive in love_________________Connect with Dalia:www.daliaforreels.com/linkinbiohttps://www.instagram.com/daliaforreels________________Join my conscious singles database in NYC + LA: unionmatchmaking.comFollow Sana on Socials:⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/sanaakhand⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@sanaakhand⁠⁠⁠Leave us a review on Apple Podcasts:⁠⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/thriving-in-love-i-break-patterns-to-call-in-soul-expanding/id1638372129

My 16th Annual 31 Days of Halloween kicks off with Robert Weine's follow-up to Caligari - 1920's Genuine: The Tragedy of a Vampire. ENDING MUSIC: Angel Witch by Angel Witch Watch Genuine: The Tragedy of a Vampire  Support TWoRP Contact Us talkwithoutrhythm@gmail.com

Fluent Fiction - Italian: A Rainy Romance in Villa Borghese: Luca's Genuine Connection Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.com/it/episode/2025-10-01-07-38-20-it Story Transcript:It: Luca camminava lentamente nel Parco di Villa Borghese.En: Luca walked slowly in the Parco di Villa Borghese.It: Le foglie autunnali coloravano il terreno di giallo e arancione.En: The autumn leaves colored the ground yellow and orange.It: Il vento fresco dell'autunno accarezzava il suo viso mentre avanzava verso il punto d'incontro con Elena.En: The fresh autumn wind caressed his face as he advanced toward the meeting point with Elena.It: Luca era nervoso.En: Luca was nervous.It: Le mani sudate stringevano un piccolo mazzo di fiori.En: His sweaty hands were holding a small bouquet of flowers.It: Non sapeva se era la scelta giusta.En: He didn't know if it was the right choice.It: "Troppo romantico?"En: "Too romantic?"It: si chiedeva.En: he wondered.It: Elena era già lì, seduta su una panchina vicino a una fontana.En: Elena was already there, sitting on a bench near a fountain.It: Indossava una sciarpa rossa che risaltava tra i colori dell'autunno.En: She wore a red scarf that stood out among the autumn colors.It: Quando vide Luca, gli sorrise calorosamente.En: When she saw Luca, she smiled warmly at him.It: "Ciao, Luca," disse Elena.En: "Hi, Luca," said Elena.It: "Bellissimi fiori, grazie!"En: "Beautiful flowers, thank you!"It: Luca si rilassò un po'.En: Luca relaxed a little.It: "Ciao, Elena.En: "Hi, Elena.It: Mi fa piacere che ti piacciano.En: I'm glad you like them.It: Il parco è bellissimo oggi, vero?"En: The park is beautiful today, isn't it?"It: "Splendido," rispose Elena, guardandosi intorno.En: "Gorgeous," replied Elena, looking around.It: "Adoro passeggiare qui."En: "I love walking here."It: Si sedettero insieme e iniziarono a chiacchierare mentre gustavano i panini che Luca aveva portato.En: They sat together and began to chat while enjoying the sandwiches that Luca had brought.It: Parlare con Elena era facile.En: Talking with Elena was easy.It: Lei era rilassata e divertente.En: She was relaxed and fun.It: Improvvisamente, grosse gocce di pioggia cominciarono a cadere.En: Suddenly, big raindrops started to fall.It: Luca si bloccò.En: Luca froze.It: "Oh no," pensò.En: "Oh no," he thought.It: "Il tempo rovina tutto!"En: "The weather is ruining everything!"It: Elena rise, alzando lo sguardo verso il cielo.En: Elena laughed, looking up at the sky.It: "Sembra che stia per piovere sul serio!"En: "Looks like it's going to really rain!"It: Luca doveva fare una scelta.En: Luca had to make a choice.It: Cercare riparo o godersi questo momento spontaneo?En: Seek shelter or enjoy this spontaneous moment?It: Dopo un attimo di esitazione, Luca decise.En: After a moment of hesitation, Luca decided.It: Rise anche lui e disse, "Corriamo!"En: He laughed too and said, "Let's run!"It: Elena afferrò la mano di Luca e insieme correrono verso una grande albero.En: Elena grabbed Luca's hand, and together they ran toward a large tree.It: Sotto i rami, si fermarono ansimando e ridendo.En: Under the branches, they stopped, panting and laughing.It: "Bagnati, ma felici," disse Elena scherzosamente.En: "Wet but happy," said Elena jokingly.It: Luca annuì, sentendosi improvvisamente leggero.En: Luca nodded, suddenly feeling light.It: "A volte, l'imprevedibilità è la parte più divertente."En: "Sometimes, unpredictability is the most fun part."It: Seduti lì, ancora con le gocce di pioggia tra i capelli, Luca sentì una connessione profonda con Elena.En: Sitting there, still with raindrops in their hair, Luca felt a deep connection with Elena.It: Aveva imparato che essere se stessi, anche nei momenti difficili, poteva creare un legame vero.En: He had learned that being oneself, even in difficult moments, could create a true bond.It: L'autunno romano continuava il suo gioco di colori e pioggia, ma Luca non era più preoccupato.En: The autunno romano continued its play of colors and rain, but Luca was no longer worried.It: Aveva trovato il coraggio di essere genuino, e questo era solo l'inizio di qualcosa di speciale.En: He had found the courage to be genuine, and this was just the beginning of something special. Vocabulary Words:the leaves: le fogliethe bouquet: il mazzosweaty: sudatethe bench: la panchinato smile: sorrideregorgeous: splendidoto chat: chiacchieraresuddenly: improvvisamentethe weather: il tempoto seek: cercarethe shelter: il riparospontaneous: spontaneoto hesitate: esitareto grab: afferrareto pant: ansimarethe branches: i ramiwet: bagnatito nod: annuirethe unpredictability: l'imprevedibilitàthe bond: il legamethe courage: il coraggiogenuine: genuinothe beginning: l'inizioslowly: lentamentethe fountain: la fontanathe scarf: la sciarpawarmly: calorosamentethe sandwiches: i paninito enjoy: gustareto freeze: bloccarsi

Tuesday September 30, 2025XVI Week After PentecostIn today's episode, we journey through three powerful passages of Scripture that call us to examine our faith and remain steadfast in God's truth.

In this episode of "Father and Joe," hosts Father Boniface Hicks and Joe Rockey dive deep into the fast-evolving world of artificial intelligence and its implications on human relationships. With AI becoming an integral part of our lives, it's crucial to understand its impact, especially on the sanctity and quality of human connections. Father Boniface and Joe explore the nuances of trust within relationships in an age where AI can imitate human behavior with uncanny precision. Can technology ever replicate the profound depth of human relationships? Join the hosts as they discuss the dangers of blurring the lines between genuine human interaction and AI-powered communication.The episode looks into the potential pitfalls of AI-generated content and how it may compromise our ability to discern truth from fiction. Our relationship dynamics, whether personal or professional, rely heavily on the trust and authenticity that AI may challenge. This conversation underscores the importance of maintaining robust in-person relationships and developing skills to ensure what we perceive as real is indeed so. Father Boniface touches on the philosophical and theological aspects of these changes, calling listeners to reconsider the value of human connections that transcend mere transactional interactions.Joe brings to light the effects seen in the business and social landscapes, where AI is often used to automate everything from advertising to customer interactions. The hosts discuss the potential saturation and diminishing quality of AI-generated content, which could cause a decline in meaningful human engagement.As Joe and Father Boniface navigate these complex ideas, they challenge listeners to enhance their "relationship muscles" and prioritize cultivating genuine human connections. Whether it's strengthening existing bonds or repairing broken ones, they highlight the critical need for human interaction in our technology-driven world.Tags: Artificial Intelligence, AI Impact, Human Relationships, Trust, Technology and Humanity, Father and Joe, Podcast, Spiritual Guidance, Relationship Skills, AI Concerns, Authentic Connections, Digital Age, AI Content, Communication, Human Interaction, Father Boniface Hicks, Joe Rockey, Personal Development, Spirituality, Theology, AI Challenges, AI Future, Business Impacts, Social Media, Online Interactions, Human Connection, Life Skills, Technological Growth, AI Ethics, Digital Communication, AI Algorithms, Relationship Dynamics, Trust in Technology, Spiritual Reflection, Real vs Fake, New Technology, Human Creativity, Generative AI, AI in Society, Faith and TechnologyHashtags: #ArtificialIntelligence, #AIImpact, #HumanRelationships, #TrustIssues, #TechAndHumanity, #FatherAndJoe, #PodcastTalk, #SpiritualGuidance, #RelationshipSkills, #AIFears, #DigitalConnections, #AIContent, #TrueCommunication, #HumanInteraction, #FatherBonifaceHicks, #JoeRockey, #PersonalGrowth, #Spirituality, #TheologicalTalk, #AIChallenges, #FutureTech, #BusinessImpact, #SocialMedia, #OnlineInteractions, #RealHumanConnection, #LifeSkills, #TechGrowth, #AIethics, #DigitalCommunication, #AIGeneration, #RelationshipDynamics, #TechTrust, #SpiritualReflection, #RealVsFake, #NewTech, #HumanCreativity, #GenerativeAI, #AISociety, #FaithAndTechThis line is here to correct the site's formatting error.

SummaryIn this sermon, Benjamin Lee explores the themes of holiness, human rebellion, and the implications of the phrase 'spiritual but not religious.' He discusses the dangers of individual spirituality detached from doctrine and the importance of the church as a community of faith. The conversation emphasizes the authority of scripture, the significance of God's commandments, and the call to genuine spirituality and repentance.TakeawaysGod's holiness contrasts sharply with human rebellion.The phrase 'spiritual but not religious' reflects a rejection of authority.Individual spirituality can lead to moral chaos.Scripture is the ultimate authority in matters of faith.God's commandments are for our good and protection.Trends do not define truth; God's word does.Genuine spirituality requires a commitment to God's will.Repentance and faith are necessary for salvation.Chapters00:00 The Holiness of God and Human Rebellion03:19 Understanding 'Spiritual but Not Religious'06:10 The Dangers of Individual Spirituality08:45 The Authority of Scripture and Doctrine11:43 The Role of the Church in Spiritual Life14:22 Responding to 'Spiritual but Not Religious'17:14 The Importance of God's Commandments19:50 The Nature of True Religion22:22 The Call to Spiritual Maturity25:13 The Consequences of Ignoring God's Standards28:02 The Hope of Salvation and the Return of Christwww.benjaminlee.blogwww.icandopodcast.com

You can be a good solution engineer but still suck at different aspects of the job. That's because there are too many skills that Solution Engineers need to work on, it's almost impossible to be great at all of them. Even if we break them down, technical skills versus soft skills, there are still many that SEs might not be good at. Examples of soft skills include listening, storytelling, demoing, de-escalating, handling objections, and many more.  It isn't easy to be great at all of them. And yet, even if you're not great at something, it doesn't mean you cannot work on it. It doesn't mean you cannot turn your weakness into a strength. And that is what Evgeni did. He turned his perceived weakness, speaking, into one of his better strengths and used it to get better at building relationships with his customers.

Standing out has gotten even more difficult thanks to the flood of AI content, and many early-stage founders mistakenly believe they need to act like corporate brands to be taken seriously.In this episode, Yaniv chats with Christine Blosdale, an award-winning media coach, podcaster, and branding strategist. Together they discuss how authenticity, personal branding, and “expert authority” can give founders a massive edge in today's AI-driven startup landscape.They also explore how to overcome imposter syndrome, use AI responsibly, and build a founder-led brand that attracts talent, customers, and investors.In this episode, you will:Discover why authenticity is now the ultimate differentiator in the age of AI and algorithmic contentLearn how to build “expert authority” to boost your reputation and visibility as a founderOvercome imposter syndrome with practical mindset shifts that make content creation easierApply Christine's tactics for repurposing podcasts, blogs, and videos to scale your personal brandSee why founder-led branding attracts better hires, investors, and partnersCreate a simple media kit to clarify your mission, credentials, and unique value propositionLearn more about Christine here: https://www.christineblosdale.com The Pact Honor the Startup Podcast Pact! If you have listened to TSP and gotten value from it, please:Follow, rate, and review us in your listening appSubscribe to the TSP Mailing List to gain access to exclusive newsletter-only content and early access to information on upcoming episodes: https://thestartuppodcast.beehiiv.com/subscribe Secure your official TSP merchandise at https://shop.tsp.show/  Follow us here on YouTube for full-video episodes: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCNjm1MTdjysRRV07fSf0yGg Give us a public shout-out on LinkedIn or anywhere you have a social media followingKey linksGet your question in for our next Q&A episode: https://forms.gle/NZzgNWVLiFmwvFA2A The Startup Podcast website: https://www.tsp.show/episodes/Learn more about Chris and YanivWork 1:1 with Chris: http://chrissaad.com/advisory/  Follow Chris on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chrissaad/  Follow Yaniv on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ybernstein/Producer: Justin McArthur https://www.linkedin.com/in/justin-mcarthurIntro Voice: Jeremiah Owyang https://web-strategist.com/

Learn, Understand and Master the LANGUAGE of WOMEN

Romans 12:9-13 English Standard VersionMarks of the True Christian9 Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good.10 Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor. 11 Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord. 12 Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer. 13 Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality.English Standard Version (ESV)The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.ESV Text Edition: 2025.

In this insightful episode of The Reformed Brotherhood, hosts Tony Arsenal and Jesse Schwamb begin their series on Jesus's parables by examining the Parable of the Sower (or Soils). This foundational teaching from Christ reveals why some hearts receive the gospel message while others reject it. The hosts unpack the four soil types Jesus describes, exploring what each represents spiritually and how these patterns continue to manifest today. They emphasize that while the parable reveals different responses to the gospel, it also provides comfort for believers engaged in evangelism, reminding us that outcomes ultimately depend not on the sower's skill but on the condition of the soil—a condition that only God can prepare. This episode offers both theological depth and practical encouragement for Christians seeking to understand the various responses to the gospel message in their own ministry contexts. Key Takeaways The Parable of the Sower serves as a hermeneutical key for understanding all of Jesus's parables, as it directly addresses why Jesus taught in parables and provides the interpretive framework for understanding their purpose. The parable reveals four types of responses to the gospel (represented by the four soils), but only one that leads to genuine salvation and fruit-bearing. The focus of the parable is not on the sower's skill or the seed's quality but on the condition of the soil—emphasizing God's sovereignty in salvation while encouraging continued evangelism. The "rocky ground" hearers represent those who initially receive the gospel with joy but have no root system to sustain them when trials come, often resulting in what we might call "deconstruction" today. Christians should expect varied responses to gospel proclamation and not be discouraged when the seed appears to be wasted on unresponsive hearts, as this pattern was predicted by Jesus himself. The parable provides a warning against shallow faith while encouraging believers to develop deep spiritual roots that can withstand persecution and trials. Genuine conversion is ultimately evidenced by fruit-bearing, not merely by initial enthusiasm or religious affiliation. Understanding the Soils The Parable of the Sower presents four distinct soil types, each representing different responses to the gospel message. The first soil—the path—represents hearts where the gospel makes no impact whatsoever; the seed simply bounces off and is quickly snatched away by Satan. This illustrates not merely outward rejection of the gospel, but also intellectual non-comprehension. As Tony explains, this doesn't necessarily mean active hostility toward the gospel but could simply be indifference: "It may not be someone who has like a closed fist, 'I hate the gospel, I hate everything about God,' but for some reason they're just not [interested]." This parallels Paul's teaching in 1 Corinthians 2:14 that "the natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him." The rocky soil represents those who initially receive the gospel with enthusiasm but lack depth. Their faith appears genuine at first but quickly withers under pressure or persecution. This phenomenon is particularly evident in what we often call "deconstruction" today—where someone who appeared genuinely converted falls away when their faith is tested. As Jesse notes, "I think what I've been helpful for me is to get outta my mind...what's the length of time here? Is it possible that somebody could be in this place...which presents like a setting down of deep roots that could last like years on end?" The parable reminds us that immediate joy at receiving the gospel is not necessarily evidence of saving faith, and it calls us to examine whether our own faith has sufficient depth to withstand trials. The Comfort of Realistic Expectations One of the most encouraging aspects of this parable is how it calibrates our expectations about evangelism and gospel ministry. Jesus teaches that when the gospel is proclaimed, we should expect varied responses—including outright rejection—not because of any failure in the message or messenger, but because of the condition of human hearts. This provides tremendous comfort for believers engaged in evangelistic efforts who might otherwise be discouraged by apparent failure. Tony highlights this point: "This parable is not about the skill of the sower or even the efficacy of the seed...The point of the parable...is that it has to do with the soil itself." This understanding frees us from the pressure of thinking we must somehow perfect our evangelistic technique or presentation, while also removing the false guilt that can come when people reject the message we share. Furthermore, the parable encourages continued, generous sowing of the gospel seed. As Tony observes, "We don't see the sower in this parable meticulously only identifying the good soil and only planting the seeds there. He does promiscuously spread this seed everywhere that he can." This reminds us that our responsibility is faithful proclamation, while the results remain in God's sovereign hands. Memorable Quotes "The Parable of the Sower teaches really that the gospel call goes out to all... but only those who God regenerates, that good soil, are gonna receive it savingly and will bear fruit." - Jesse Schwamb "Just because our experience of Christianity and our experience of being in the faith feels so genuine and real and rooted, we should also recognize that it felt real and genuine and rooted for [those who later fell away]... There's a caution there for us." - Tony Arsenal "The exhortation built into this is that we need to seek that root. We don't get to determine what kind of soil we are on an ultimate level—that's God's election and his secret providence. But on a horizontal level, in our experience of things, we have agency, we make decisions. We seek to be rooted or unrooted in the gospel." - Tony Arsenal Full Transcript [00:00:36] Introduction and Greetings Jesse Schwamb: Welcome to episode 462 of The Reformed Brotherhood. I am Jesse. Tony Arsenal: And I'm Tony. And this is the podcast of Good Soil. Hey brother. Jesse Schwamb: Hey brother. Well, will you look at us? Look at us. It's finally and officially begun. And that is this conversation. [00:01:00] Kickoff to the Parable Series Jesse Schwamb: This episode is really the kickoff, well, the first parable that we're going through together, starting a long conversation that I think is gonna bear much fruit, if you will. Yes. Maybe 30, maybe 60, maybe a hundred times. Lord willing. It's gonna be great. And we're starting off with a doozy. Yes. Actually, maybe this is like the granddaddy of all the parables because we're gonna hear Jesus tell us something about the word of God and how it's received among different hearers. And this is so fantastic. It's the only place to begin because this is truly some eternally contemporary words. Yeah, it's, this is the parable that's continually verified under our own eyes. Wherever the word of God is preached or expounded and people are assembled to hear it, the sayings of our Lord in this parable are found to be true. It describes what goes on as a general rule in our congregations in the world. Anytime the word of God goes out, what a place to begin. So we're gonna get there. It's gonna be great, don't you worry, dear listener. [00:02:04] Affirmations and Denials Jesse Schwamb: But of course, before we do that, it's our tradition, our word that's spoken is always something in affirmation with something or in denial against something. So I say to you, as I always do, Tony. What do you have for us on this episode? Uh, an affirmation or denial. Tony Arsenal: This is an affirmation. I'll try to keep it nice and short and tight. Uh, I am affirming everything that comes with the fall. It's the air's getting crisp. The season, the, the pumpkin. Yeah. Not, not the fall. With the, let's, let's, let's clarify. I'm affirming everything that comes with autumn. So, uh, the air's crisp, the pumpkin spice is flowing, the leaves are starting to come down. Although, as a New Englander, I feel like I might be a little disappointed this year they're saying that it might not be as vibrant because we've been under a bit of a drought. But, uh, I, I'm all for all of it. Sweaters, gimme like a nice cozy scarf to put on and like a, I don't know, like a stocking cap. Gimme some flannel. I'm just ready to rock and roll. I'm, I'm, I'm done with summer and I'm ready for fall and yeah, that's, that's the whole thing. That's the affirmation. Jesse Schwamb: Yeah. [00:03:09] Autumnal Delights and Debates Jesse Schwamb: Beautiful. It's speaking of like eternally or seasonally contemporary. That is so good. Plus I would say like the fall or autumn. The best adjectives, doesn't it? Yes. Like including like the word ottum. Yes. Like, that's just a great word that we, we do not use enough of. So this season, loved ones dropping a tum in there because Yes. It's just such a good word. Tony Arsenal: And I, I know people hate on the pumpkin spice and uh, there was a rev, I think I've said this before, it's re revolutionized my understanding because I used to get so mad because I was like, this doesn't even taste like pumpkin. It's not pumpkin flavored items, it's pumpkin spiced. Flavored items. So it's the, the spice you would use in pumpkin pie is the spice that they're talking about. So people complain that you're just putting nutmeg in things. And to that, I say yes, that's the point. You just start adding nutmeg or pumpkin spice or cloves or all spice or whatever it might be. The point is we're using the same spices that you would use for making a pumpkin pie or some other sort of fall. Delicious fall. Pumpy squashy, goodness. Jesse Schwamb: You got that right. This is a classic case of don't hate the player. Hate the game. Tony Arsenal: It's true, it's true. And if you don't like it, if you don't like pumpkin spice, then just don't talk to me at all. I'm just kidding. Still get pumpkin spice. Like you can go to Starbucks and get the same, same coffee you always get. You don't have to get pumpkin spice, you don't have to drink pumpkin beer, you don't have to do any of that. The all the stuff is, all the normal stuff is still available. They don't tell you you can't have it. Nobody is opening your mouth and pouring it down your throat. So just calm down, order your normal drip coffee and move on with your life. Jesse Schwamb: Speaking of polarizing autumnal type things, I don't know if we've talked about probably, we have talked about this and I've just forgotten. Where do you land on the whole. Cotton, uh, sorry. Candy corn, not cotton candy, but candy corn. Tony Arsenal: I, I feel like we have talked about this and my perspectives may have changed over the years. I'm not a big fan of candy corn, but I will eat it until I vomit. If you put it in front, I think is the, is the consensus that if there's a bowl of it in front of me, the first thing that I will do is I will break off two little white tips of the ca uh, candy corn and stick them on my fangs and pretend to be vampire. Jesse Schwamb: Beautiful. Tony Arsenal: And then I will eat the remainder of the pound and a half of candy that's in front of me until I throw up. Jesse Schwamb: Yeah. And I know there's some difference between like candy, corn and like the little pumpkin confectionary ones. Yeah. Some people prefer those over others. And then this is not even to talk about the whole debate between when it comes to Reese's Peanut butter cups and Oh yeah. The pumpkin variety of those and No, all that stuff. Tony Arsenal: No. Mm. Jesse Schwamb: No. To those? Tony Arsenal: No, to those. The, the shaped, the shaped, uh, Reese's Peanut butter objects, I suppose they're not cups at that point. Uh, they use a different kind of peanut butter. I dunno if you know that, but they use a different peanut butter. So they, they actually do taste different than the actual didn't know that says peanut butter cups. Um, it's either a different kind of peanut butter or a different kind of chocolate. But one of the primary substances, uh, not in the Aristotelian sense, uh, one of the primary substances is different. And so it does actually taste different. It's not as good. And then the balance between the chocolate and the peanut butter is off. It's, it's not good. I'm a, I'm a peanut butter cup. Uh, I like to say aficionado, but I think probably snob would be a better. A better term for it. Jesse Schwamb: Listen, you'll, you like what you like by the way, only on this podcast, only, I think among long-term listeners, would it be necessary to clarify that you do not mean substance in there was six alien sense. Tony Arsenal: That's true. That's, that's definitely true. Well, Jesse, that is where we are. Enough about my, uh, fall. Uh, food preferences. What are you affirming and or denying? Tonight, [00:07:02] Musical Recommendations Jesse Schwamb: I'm gonna also come along with you on it with the affirmation, and maybe while you're drinking that PSL or you're searching for that candy, corn, you might like, want something to put into your ears that isn't us, that's a little bit more melodic. And so I'm affirming with the, this time and age in which it is all about curation. That's often a lovely thing. I use Spotify for all of my music consumption, and they just fed me like a really interesting playlist that I would never have thought of as a category, but I've really been enjoying, it's called Math Rock. And I saw, and I thought I'm, I'm usually kinda like dubious of the Spotify playlist because like they're kind of out there for me generally. But I thought to myself, well, this is an interesting port man too. Like, I like math. I like rock, and the description was complex rhythms and mesmerizing loops. So I thought, I like complex rhythms. I like loops that continue and mesmerize, so the check it out for yourself. If you're looking for something that's like, it's enough to be interesting while you're working on something, but not too interesting. So that distracts you. This is apparently the jam. So yeah, it's like just really interesting rock oriented, mostly instrumental music that is like. Really motivating, but again, not interesting enough to really distract you from the task at hand if that's not your thing. The other thing I would recommend, I know you'll join me in this, Tony, is that poor Bishop Hooper released a new album this week. It's called The Serpent and the Seed, and this one has a ton of tracks on it, like 18 or so, and it, it as well is a unique mix of both instrumental, really lovely, beautiful pieces and then some that carry more vocal and melodic stuff that's kind of their customary jam. Both of 'em are great. They both do have kind of an an autumnal vibe, if I'm honest. Now I'm thinking about it. It's really the perfect compliment to whatever it is that you're consuming that has that pumpkin spice in it. So math, rock, the serpent and the seed. There you go. Tony Arsenal: I'm trying to synthesize. I mean, math and rock are like two of Jesse's favorite things. So I'm trying to synthesize what it would be like to scream the quadratic equation at someone with some sort of like slightly off cadence, dissonant guitar rift underneath. Jesse Schwamb: Yeah. Tony Arsenal: I feel like there's a Me Without You album out there somewhere that that's exactly what it is. But Jesse Schwamb: yeah, probably there should Tony Arsenal: be at least. Jesse Schwamb: Yeah, there, there absolutely should be. And I'm with you. I'm willing to work on that album. That's a great idea. Like just, it's just an album of mathematical equations and like the deep mysteries of life, you know, listen, math is beautiful. Numbers are stories. There's, there's so much there. Yeah. You had me at Quadratic, so I, I think we've, we've given people a lot to enjoy in this fall season. It's true. Tony Arsenal: I, I. I couldn't solve a quadratic equation to save my entire life at this point. Uh, I took introduction to logic when I got to college 'cause I couldn't remember how to multiply fractions on the entrance exam. That's fair. So that's fair. So that was, that's my experience with math. But right Jesse Schwamb: now the internet wants to keep serving me videos about, you've seen like all these tests, like these entrance exams for like Harvard or like the Ivy Leagues, other Ivy Leagues, and it is all these random things, you know, like we're solving for like two variables, terminally, and there is some kinda like expon explanation to it. Um. Yeah, I guess that's what I've become and I watch 'em all. They honestly get me every time. Yeah. I'm like, I'm not gonna watch that. And then I'm like, oh, I'm definitely gonna watch that. So it just happens. It's great. Tony Arsenal: I love it. Meanwhile, meanwhile, YouTube is desperately trying to get me to watch Season six and Cobra High. And it's very quickly gonna be succeeding. I think the next time Netflix has a, has a promotion where I can get a cheap month or something like that, I will definitely be binging Cobra Kai. So I feel like our YouTube algorithms are very different. Jesse Schwamb: Very different. Yeah. Very different. Certainly in, um, there is a commonality of, of the mysteries of the world and. [00:11:06] Introduction to the Parable of the Sower Jesse Schwamb: In some way, that's what we're talking about in this entire series. And yeah, if for some reason you didn't hear a conversation from two weeks ago where we really set the table, I think for what a parable is, why Jesus uses parables. As far as I remember, you correct if I'm wrong, it was the definitive conversation about why the parable is not just peace wise in Jesus' teaching, but really why it's the centerpiece. Yeah, we talked about that at great length. So now we're really ready to go. If you didn't hear that, I highly recommend you go back and hear that. 'cause there's so much. I realize as we, we looked at this parable of the sower or better like the parable of the soils, that we could do a whole series on just this bad boy. Such not just like wide interpretation, but wide application. So much for us to really chew on and then to really come back to and chew the could. So we're gonna have to be probably every time a little bit self-editing and brief. So if you're just yelling at your device, why aren't you talking about this thing? There's a great place for you to yell into or maybe just calmly and very politely suggest rather than the void, you can join our Telegram group. Telegram is just an app for, it's kind of a conversational tool and platform, and if you're looking for it and I know that you are, don't, why would you even fool yourself? It's, you can find it by going to T Me Reform Brotherhood. There's a whole channel, there's a bunch of channels there, a bunch of little conversations that we have compartmentalize. There's one just to talk about the episode. So as we go through this, my encouragement to everybody is track with us, get your scriptures out. Come along with us in the actual journey of processing this. Do spend some time processing it with us. And then when there is inevitably that thing, they're like, why didn't you talk about this? You know, a great place to converse with others and us about that would be in the Telegram Chat. So T Me Reform Brotherhood. So enough of that, let's get to it. Tony Arsenal: Yeah. Yeah. And you know, there's, there's some, um, there's some logic that would say we should have just rather than doing an Introduction to Parables episode, we should have just done the parable, because this parable does really follow, it really does form like an introduction to all of Christ's parabolic teachings. And, you know, it's, no, it's no, um, mystery either in God's providence or just in Matthew as being a, a, you know, somewhat genius level composer of, of a work of literature in putting this parable first, because you're absolutely right at the top of the show that this parable really is. Almost like the hermeneutical key for all of the parables. Not just for in terms of like understanding the parables, it doesn't do that so much. But in understanding the purpose of the parables and more importantly, explicitly in the middle of this, Christ explains why he teaches in parables. So we covered that a lot last time, so we're not gonna, we're gonna skip over that middle section 'cause we don't need to rehash that. But this really is the granddaddy of all the parables. It it is, um. It is Christ's teaching on why he uses parables in action. It's the application of his own theology, of parables, if you want to call it that. Uh, in principle. And he is gracious enough that in this very first parable, he actually gives us the interpretation, right, which is, is not entirely unique, um, in, in the gospels, but it is not always the norm. There are a fair number of parables where Christ just drops the parable and leaves it there, um, for both his immediate listeners to figure out and then also for us to figure out. We're not given the inspired interpretation, but this one we are given the inspired interpretation. And Jesse, I had to laugh because, um. Just as you get really, really upset and worked, worked up about when people say Christ's body broken for you. Uh, it just drives me nuts when people call this the parable of the soils. 'cause Christ gives it a name, right? So, so we'll talk about that too. And I, I'm, I'm mostly playing, like, I'm not gonna jump through the screen at you or anything like that, but that's the, one of the other unique features of this parable is that it's given it's, it's given a name. Um, and that's part of the interpretation is that in most cases, parables have a primary figure or a primary point that's being made. And if you get that primary point wrong or that primary figure wrong, um, you tend to get the rest of the parable wrong. In this case, Christ graciously tells us who the parable is about or what the parable is about, and then later on when we get to the, the next parable or a couple parables down, um, he actually tells us more about the parable through some other teaching as well. [00:15:38] Reading and Analyzing the Parable Tony Arsenal: So, Jesse, do you have that text in front of us? Do you wanna go ahead and read that first chunk? That's the parable itself. Jesse Schwamb: I do, let's do it by the way. Uh, maybe somebody should keep track. Here's a fun little game of how many times we say parable or parabolic. And of course, whenever I hear parabolic, I always think, of course there is like something of great hyperbole or allegory, but I often think of, uh, parabola, which to your point, Tony, I think you're just doing this for my sake now, and I love, this is an exponent oriented equation. Of course, it's a like a canonical section, which can only be creative mathematically by pronunciation again. So thank you for that. I thought you just did that for me, so Tony Arsenal: I have no idea what you just said. You might as well have been speaking like Hindu. Jesse Schwamb: It's fantastic. Well, let's, let's get to the actual, the best word, the word of life. And this is from Matthew chapter 13. Beginning just at the start of the chapter. That same day, Jesus went out of his, uh, house and sat beside the sea and, and great crowds gathered about him so that he got into a boat and sat down and the whole crowd stood on the beach. And he told them many things in parables saying. A sower went out to sow. And as he sowed, some seeds fell along the path and the birds came and devoured them. Other seeds fell on rocky ground where they did not have much soil, and immediately they sprung up since they had no depth of soil. But when the sun rose, they were scorched. And since they had no roots, they were it away. Other seeds fell among thorns and the thorns grew up and choked them. Other seeds fell on good soil and produced grain. Some a hundred fold, some 60, some 30. He who has ears, let him hear. Tony Arsenal: Yeah. So on a surface level here, the, the parable is straightforward, right? We have a very straightforward picture, which is, is common for most of the parables, that it's not some sort of unusual, crazy out there situation that's being described. It's a common scenario from everyday life, uh, that doesn't tend to have sort of like. Mythological legendary kinds of characteristics. We have a simple farmer who is out sowing his seeds. Um, some of the commentaries we'll point out, and I don't, I dunno how accurate this is or isn't, but I, I saw it in, in a couple different commentaries. So I'm inclined to, to believe it that our model of farming, uh, in sort of a western world or, or maybe not western world, but in a more, I dunno, technologically advanced world, is to teal the ground till the ground first, Jesse Schwamb: right? Tony Arsenal: And then to scatter seed. And it was much more common in the ancient world to actually scatter the seed kind of, uh, promiscuously and then till the ground. Um, I don't know the reasons for that. I'm not a horticulturist, but, um. The, the, one of the critiques that I've heard, and it's funny when people try to critique Jesus is 'cause they're always proven wrong, but one of the critiques I've heard is like, no farmer whatever would ever do this. Like, no, no sower would ever just throw seed on the ground, but this actually is the way they would've done farming. So he's, he's taking an everyday scenario that everyone would've been familiar with. Right. Nobody would've been like, oh yeah, that doesn't make any sense. They would've just said, oh yeah, of course you just throw the seed on the ground and then you come back around later and you do what you need to do. So it, it was really a scenario where some of the seed would've fallen on the path. And we're not talking about like a road next to the farm, but a lot of times the, the field had sort of, um. They're probably called like convenience trails is what they're called now. But people would travel through the, through the paths, and so there would be an area that's already walked, walked on that's a little bit easier to traverse. And eventually that area would turn into a pathway. So it was, it was kind of turned into sort of like hard clay turf that you couldn't get the seed into anyways. And then there would've been areas where, um, there was rocks under the surface. Most of our fields that our farm fields have been tilled and prepared and have been worked over, that the stones had been removed. But it wasn't always like that in the ancient world. And then you would've had areas where there was, uh, there was other vegetation, thorns, weeds, other kinds of plants that would've made, made it difficult for the crop to sprout and to bear fruit. So we have a very common scenario. There's nothing surprising about this. There's nothing out of the ordinary. It's just a simple farming metaphor that Christ employs here. Jesse Schwamb: And in some ways that's very consistent of course, because we have these very ordinary, normal things that God is using as a means of explanation for something that is very extraordinary, very supernatural. So we have the natural coming into play, not just as a representation, but to really demonstrates, illustrates and impound both in structure and form. This idea of what it means for the gospel to be communicated. And I'm with you, my understanding is in most ancient world. Those, those fields, we tend to think of them as fields and often the reference that way were like more like these narrow strips of land separated by these paths and you have this farmer casting the seed like very liberally. And not only that, but I think what's interesting right on the face. Is we see that there are basically four potential outcomes here and only one of those outcomes, 'cause we're already understanding this to mean the sowing of the sea, which is the word of life, which is the gospel message. Only one of those outcomes results in kingdom growth. There's a ratio of three to one. There's three times as many poor outcomes. In other words, there's all of these various ways in which we find that the seed is not rejected or does not result in the intended fruit. But there is just one path, one narrow kind of way in which it does result, and then it results in kind of various outcomes in terms of like the magnitude of the fruit or the plants that result from this planting. But as a result of that. I think what's really interesting to me right on the face is that we're seeing, like you said, there is a sower. He's casting the seed deliberately, he's coming on the path and he's just throwing it out. And in that narrow strip of land, there are all these different soils. And so right away we see if you're, if you're a farmer, you're understanding something about, it's not about the skill of the farmer in the casting of the seed. It's not even about the, the skill of the seed to grow. It's about the soil itself. And so again, we have this as three times as many potentially poor outcomes as there are for the one that results in this grand harvest. Tony Arsenal: Yeah. Yeah. And the one thing about this that might be, might have been, and, and again, some of the commentators are, are split on this, but might have been a sort of unexpected, um, element. And, and this is something we do see with, uh, with the parables, is there's usually some sort of, um. Unexpected or dramatic or turn of events kind of element, usually towards the end of a parable that would make, would, should be a subversion of expectations. Right? Right. And so the, in this instance, um, a yield of 30 times or, or 60 times or a hundred times, all of those yields would be crazy high yields. Um, you know, I, I, I think there are some plants, some of the commentators will make, make a point that there are some plants where like a 30. A 30 yield is normal. Um, but a 30 or a 60 or a hundred times yield of a crop is, is not the expectation. And so I think in, in a scenario like this, the reader or the listener is prepped by the fact that there are three, uh, negative outcomes and only one favorable outcome. To assume that the crop yield is not going to be great. Right? And then the reality is the crops that do sprout the crops that land on the good soil or the seed that lands on the good soil. Not only is it productive, it's so productive that it actually outpaces and kind of compensates for the lack of productivity or the lack of fruitfulness of the other three. So it's, it's three different, uh, it's four possible outcomes and then three levels of fruitfulness. And so this parable does sort of cause the listener or the hearer to think about, um, and start, you know, from the very outset, think about what does, what does it mean that the seed landed on the path and was stolen away by the birds? What does it mean that it sprouted quickly and uh, but didn't have roots and so it withered away in the sun? And what does it mean that, you know, it sprouted among thorns and so it couldn't bear fruit. And then I think the implied, um, the implied question that's being forced here because the parable does start out, you know, saying there was the sower, the sower, um. Sowed this seed out. He doesn't introduce this the same way he normally, he normally does or commonly does, right? Jesus often will start the peril ball by saying something like, the kingdom of God is like, right? Or you know this. This is like that. This, he just starts out saying like, a sower was out in the, in the field sowing seed. So the, the listener is not primed to know what the comparison is necessarily, but I think part of that is that now they're forced to ask what is the comparison? And I don't think it's much of a stretch. And again, this is why parables are so kind of paradoxical is it's not a difficult, when we get to the interpretation, it's not difficult to see the interpretation. Right, right. It's, it's easy to understand that the parable here, the metaphor is, is different reactions of, of some sort to. To a given thing, right? It's, it's different reactions to an investment of some sort. There's an investment of seed and in some instances it just doesn't take, in other instances, it takes and it doesn't sprout, and in other instances it sprouts, but it never fruits. So when we get to the interpretation, Jesus is gonna give us the clarity of what that investment is, and then who are, or what are the outcomes and what do they mean? In, in our, you know, in our thought process of what the kingdom of God is like. Jesse Schwamb: Yeah, so let's do it then. [00:25:44] Understanding the Soils Jesse Schwamb: 'cause what we've got here is we basically have, each soil is representing some type of here. So we've got four heres but only one true believer. So it's probably behooves us to go through all of them and really kind of chat through. And maybe what we can do is try to bring some of our own practical application to each of these. I've been really meditating and pondering that, trying to think if this is practical for us, then how can we understand how each of these are being manifest all around us? And of course the intention here is not to like name people that we think fall into each of these four little groups, but more so to think about how we might understand people who do fall into each of these groups. And that is to say that. Each one of these, well, the, the first three rather, that these ones in which they're, the soil is in some degree suboptimal. I, I don't know that it means that it's always that way, for instance. So we might think of people that fall into those categories, but the Lord may be moving or working in them to move them into that fourth category. And of course, he's done that with ourselves, so we know that that's exactly how he operates. Um, and it's, I think it's good for us to remember that. I think there's a lot that's scary about this first soil, this idea that. The seed just bounces. So we get no uptake whatsoever in this one. But the other ones, at least you get a little satisfaction that there's some kind of reception. There is a receipt of that word. And the reason why I find this one to be so troubling is because these who hear it in the first case, they don't understand and they don't esteem it. And Christ is very clear to say that the seed itself doesn't sit there long. It bounces. So there's a, there is a literal hardness. That's reflected in that clay soil or that path, which is down trotted. And it's hard because of perhaps this constant lack of belief, this constant and unrepentant hearts or lifestyle, but it would be enough if it just kinda bounced off and sat there. But the fact that it's snatched away that the birds come and take it away, that Satan himself has an active and powerful role in influencing all of those who are hearing this word. And I think that hardness of heart may not just be manifest in, say, like an unrepentant lifestyle or this kind of clench fist against God on the inside, which is of course true of the natural man. But more than that, that anything that would take us away from true belief. So that is even any kind of our religious system or belief, any kind of philosophy, any kind of other worldview I think is in mind here because we know the devil comes to kill, steal, and destroy. And so. What he's doing in that sometimes happens first and foremost in the mind, manifested in the heart and then in our behaviors. So if he's stealing away this word by replacing it with something that is false, that is not true, that destroys, that pulls us away and moves us away, then this is very scary. He has a real power, which we talked about. I don't know, like maybe six or so episodes ago. It's worth listening to, I think. And so what I find here that is really traumatizing upfront is the involvement in particular of the sinful man under his own mean estate. That is, that it's clear that the natural man cannot conceive of the things of God without regeneration, and Jesus makes it abundantly clear. He's, he's basically saying what Paul says later on in First Corinthians when he writes, the natural person does not accept the things of the spirit of God, does not accept them. So again, there's no agreement. There's no, even an intellectual ascent does not accept the things of the spirit of God for they are folly to him and he's not able to understand them because they're spiritually discerned. The spiritual person judges all things, but is himself to be judged by no one for who is understood the mind of the Lord so as to instruct him. But we have the mind of Christ, so there is no mind of Christ, which is, it's a horrible way to live life. And so in that space we have both the natural man, his total depravity, unable to pull himself up by his theological bootstraps or philosophical bootstraps or his intellectual emotional bootstraps to even discern what the way in which the world really actually is. And then in in, I say in addition to that, we have the devil himself waging war and attacking by pulling away that seed. Tony Arsenal: Yeah. And I have a little bit of a different take on this and I think this is what I am looking forward to in this series. Is there, there is gonna be. [00:30:01] Understanding the Parable of the Sower Tony Arsenal: Different, uh, different understandings that probably all fall and are all compatible, but all fall within a acceptable range of understanding. Here, you know, I, in, in reading some of the commentaries, Calvin makes the point that all four of these different types of seed represent people who in some sense are open to the gospel. They're, they're open to, he, he makes the point that this is not talking about the, the person who like refuses to hear the gospel at all, who like won't even come into the church. This is a person predominantly who is, is exposed to the word in some sense, probably in view as someone who's among the people of God who's in the, in the, in the physical body of the people of God who's among Christians or among those hearing the word. And for whatever reason, the, the, the seed doesn't, uh, it doesn't even get into the soil. Right, and he compares, Christ compares, um, this not to somebody who is hardhearted, but to someone who doesn't understand, right? That there's an intellectual element to this, right? You think of, um, you know, you think of somebody who hears the scripture and probably understands outwardly what it means, but doesn't ever comprehend it internally. They don't ever really, they don't ever really let it penetrate into their, into their hearts. Um, so it's been sewn into their hearts, but it doesn't actually take root in their hearts in any other sense. [00:31:38] The Role of the Soil in Receiving the Word Tony Arsenal: And this is what's a little bit different from, from the other ones that we're gonna see in all of the other cases. The seed takes root, Jesse Schwamb: right? Tony Arsenal: It actually penetrates the ground and begins to grow. Um, it, this is a seed that never even makes it that far. And so it may not be someone who has like a, who necessarily has like a closed fist. I hate the gospel. I hate everything about God, but for some reason they're just not. And when we say for some reason I'm talking, obviously I'm talking la you know, horizontally. Um, we know that the reason that they don't have an open heart is 'cause the Holy Spirit is not open to their heart. But for whatever earthly temporal reason, the word just doesn't penetrate. It bounces off of them. It just doesn't get there. Not necessarily because they're outwardly hostile to it. They just maybe are not interested in it. And so this is where I think that. Along with the evil one, snatching it away. That's actually like one in the same thing. Is, is part of what I think this is getting at is that the, the, the only reason that the, um, that Satan can snatch away the word from their heart or what has been sewn into their heart is because their heart has not received it. And so it's that sort of dual function and, and maybe it's kind of like, almost like, uh, in Exodus, you know, God hardening the heart and then Pharaoh hardening the heart and those two things are happening, you know, by means of concurs that God is doing it in a divine sense. I almost feel like this is an instance where kind of like the, the census or, or with job where Satan is the one who is doing it, but it's ultimately attributed to God as well. It's the hardening of the heart, but it's also the hardness of heart. Um, all of those things are playing a dynamic, but ultimately the point here is that there are those who the word is preached to. [00:33:30] The Sower's Responsibility and the Soil's Condition Tony Arsenal: Um, you know, we will find out in, in a little bit later, like, the sower is Christ in, in these parables here. It's not, it's not generally the sowing of the word. It's Christ who is sowing the word. It's the son who is sowing, uh, the seed of the word. And we can think about that either during his own ministry. This certainly was, um, was true of his own ministry on Earth, that there were some who just did not receive the word and they just, it just bounced off of them. But then also as the son sows the seed through his people, down through the church age, through history, whether it's in the Lord's Day service or personal, witnessing, personal, you know, um, evangelism, it's still God who is sowing the seed. It's still the Lord who is the sower of the seed. But even in that context, there are still some who just don't receive it. So I think what you said earlier is really, is really spot on. This parable is not about. The skill of the sower or even the efficacy of the seed. Right. And I think sometimes people read this and they, they look at it as though it is actually the sewer's fault. What a dumb sower. He sowed it on the path. Of course it's not gonna take root. That's not the point of the parable at all. The point of the parable, and we learn it just right, this very first one, is that it has to do with the, the soil itself. Which is why, you know, I, I kind of joke about calling it the parable of the soils, and that's a fine way to refer to it. And most of these parables could have multiple different, you know, accurate titles as well. But the point of the parable, or the main point of the parable is that the soil itself is what determines the outcome. Again, you know, we, we don't need to get into all the theological details of how the soil becomes, what the soil is. This show has the word reformed in the title. You can figure out that we're gonna say, well, God is the one that prepares the soil. And that also just fits with the, with the a parable here, right? The good soil is only good because it's been tilled and prepared by the sower ahead of time, right? So I think that's, that's spot on. And, and you know, as I think about the people I know in my life, um, it's very easy to get discouraged when you try to so seed to, to follow through on the metaphor when you try to so seed and it feels like it bounces off. But we shouldn't be surprised at that. We shouldn't be surprised when someone is just not interested because Christ in his very first parable tells us there are people out there like that. That doesn't mean you don't sow the seed, it doesn't mean you don't continue to spread the seed the way that the sower does. And the reason for that is that some of it is going to take, take root, some of it is going to take root and bear fruit and you are not in charge and you don't control which one does which. We don't see the sower in this parable meticulously only identifying the good soil and only planting the seeds there. He does promiscuously spread this, so this seed everywhere that he can. [00:36:26] The Reality of Hardheartedness Jesse Schwamb: Yeah, there is something there that I think is comfortable about this hardness of the soil, because I think sometimes we underestimate that the normative position of man is to be antagonistic toward God. That's not to say like we're talking about in their every action they take, they're going to refuse to hear the gospel or they're going to fight vehemently or out outwardly against it. But it's true that everywhere we find the scriptures, whether it's this other metaphor about God, again, doing this great surgery, of taking out this height of stone, which is of course hardheartedness or whether we go to like Romans three, where Paul says that there's no one who understands, there's no one who seeks God. So we understand that the default position is, one, nobody's seeking after God. Two, that God is too threatening to us. He threatens ourself. He threatens our ego, he threatens our own way. He threatens our contingency, all of which we try to fight against, like to our own dismay. And you know, basically. You know, it's willing, suspension of disbelief. But it's interesting and I think comforting here that what he's saying is, is exactly what you've just said, which is do not he, he'd almost say like loved ones. Do not be surprised when you find that people are just not that interested. They're just not into the gospel. Because your default position is to be a gospel abuser. To be a covenant breaker. And so because of that, there's just a natural hardness. And that hardness, I think he has to draw out. He has to say it's gonna bounce and Satan's gonna snatch it away because it would be, it's too easy to look at those who are just like vehemently opposed to the gospel that wanna debate. You wanna shut you down, wanna yell at you, wanna put signs in your face, wanna spit on you. That's too easy to be like, well, of course. Those people are not gonna receive it. But what about the quiet people who just don't care? Or, yeah. What about the people who are too caught up in their way of life or their simple behaviors or their patterns, or again, just what? What about those? What about the Mormons? When they come to your door and you can speak into your blue in the face about what Paul says, like the gospel plus anything is anathema, and they're just kinda like, yes. Yeah. Totally. That's fine. Totally down with that. And you're like, yeah, but you're doing, you're doing that very thing. This is great comfort to know that even those situations where you're not at war explicitly with somebody, that it's still comforting to know that this is going to happen. And also I think it's a great reminder that apart from God, apart from that changing of the soil, as you said, Tony, we would be those same people. That's in fact where we start. I, I don't say that. Like there's a progression here. We find in the, from moving from one to four. There is though something like you've said, where it's just interesting that Jesus shows us the very kind of shades of this. And I think, again, we gotta get out of our head like the, the temporality of this or like, well, what length of time are we talking about? Like when we get to the second one, which we should move on to. And there is some sprouting of the seed. Like how much time are we talking about? Like if it's two weeks, are they in camp two, if it's three weeks, are they moved out of that into some other, one of the other schools? Uh, I think it's just to show us that there are really, again, four hearers, one believer, and we can see clearly what the one believer looks like. It's a little bit more difficult to maybe sometimes discern what the other three look like, but it gives us hope and encouragement and basically just a sense of like, this is the way the world works. To know pres positionally, that when we go out, and like you said, I love this already, this is a major theme, is speak the gospel to all people. I mean, in this way, the gospel is for all people. Because Jesus' saying, do not cast the seed here. Go and look at that narrow path and find out, try to keep it off the, the hard ground. Do not let the devil snatch it up. It just says, throw and seed, throw and seed. And so we have to keep doing that stuff. [00:40:10] The Challenge of Shallow Roots Jesse Schwamb: So let's get to number two. What, what? Yeah. What say? Yeah. Tony Arsenal: Let me read it here. This is in verse, uh, 20 and 21. Here. It says, as for what was sown on rocky ground, this is the one who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy. Yet he has no root in himself, but endures for a while. And when tribulation or persecution arises on account of the world, immediately he falls away. So thi this is the person who, um, who has some sort of outward conversion experience, right? It's a person who receives the word, he receives it with joy, um, and appears to sprout, right? This is seed that has taken hold and has, uh, you know, the, the, and we, we can see that it has taken hold. So it's not just some hidden seed that has roots and never breaks the surface. Right. It's a, it's a, it's a plant that has made its way into the soil. It has taken roots of some sort. Um, but the roots are shallow. The roots never actually get, uh, deep enough to, to be able to survive the sun, right. In the, the original parable, it's, it's baked by the sun. And, you know, this is, um, I think what what we're gonna see is maybe to sort of preface your question, and I think probably this is gonna be one of those two parter episodes, even though we planned it to be one parter episode. Um, I think what we're gonna see here is that you can't actually know whether someone is. The hard rocks is the rocks or the thorns. Right? Un until, until all is said and done. Right. Right. And that's part of what's difficult is you, you want to look at a parable like this, and this is where I think maybe this is a good sort of like caution against overinterpreting, the parables, right? Christ is not trying to give us a rubric to identify who is what. Jesse Schwamb: Right. He's Tony Arsenal: not trying to give us like a litmus test to say like, that person is the hard soil. That person is the rocks. That person is the thorns. And you know, this reminds me, I, I recall, I, I dunno how many years ago, it was a couple years ago when Kanye West was going through his like Jesus phase, right? And he, everyone was like, oh my gosh, I can't believe that Kanye is a Christian and he's writing this album called Jesus. Jesus Saves. And, and I, I just remember saying at the time, like, guys, there's a parable of the soils here. Like we should be. Um, we should be joyful that it, it appears that this seed is taking root, but there are lots of different outcomes when the seed takes root. And it's funny because I, I don't, I don't remember what episode this was and please don't go look it up 'cause that's a waste of everyone's time. But I remember when that conversation happened and I don't know whether there was an affirmation or a denial or what context came up in, but I remember contrasting him to Justin Bieber. And it's ironic, right, because I actually just read on Twitter today. Let me see if I can find the post during the next time you're talking. Justin Bieber posted this really amazing, theologically astute, mature kind of statement on Twitter today. And I think at the time, if you had asked me, um, is Kanye more likely to be the good soil or Justin Bieber to be the good soil, I would've said Kanye. Right? Just because he's, he was older, he is a little bit more established in himself. Um. Justin Bieber was still very young. He was, he was sort of like all over the place personality wise. He seemed to be changing radically. And it just goes to show like, you can't tell. And, and I'm not even saying right now like, this is, this is where it gets difficult. I'm not even saying right now, Justin Bieber is good soil, although I did right. Retweet his quote and did hashtag good soil. Almost aspirationally, right? But we can take a look at someone's life in retrospect and say, this person is bearing fruit, or this person is not bearing fruit. And, and that's really where this particular, um, type of soil goes. It's not so much the fruit, it's the sprout. And I think when we look at a situation like Kanye and, and. There's hopefully still a lot of life left for Kanye, and that means there's still hope for a con, a genuine conversion and bearing fruit that keeps with repentance that does not appear to be what had happened at the time. Right? He's gone totally off the rails at this point. So we pray for that. We hope, we hope for better things for him. Um, but. At the time, Kanye was, is he, he's going by Y now. I don't even know what to call him anymore. But Kanye was a sprout that grew up with great joy quickly. And what we found through time is that it appears that he, when he was, although maybe he fits better into the second, this next category that we'll have to push off till next week, I think. But either way, like he appeared to have sprouted, he appeared to have taken root and ultimately did not actually bear fruit. And that's the defining feature of these first three ones. It's not so much about what happens with the seed. Does it get in the ground? Does it not get in the grow? Does it sprouts, does it not sprout? It's ultimately about the fruitfulness, right? The final, the final phase of the parable, the final, um, the final type of soil is the one that produces fruit. So we'll get to that in detail, but that's what we need to think about. And again, like I said, it's not as though crisis saying like, all right, here's this checklist of ways to determine whether someone's conversion is correct, is true or not. Because we can't know that until after the fact and well after the fact. We also can't know that it's valid until after the fact. What I think this parable, broadly speaking, gets at is that we have to look at every situation and realize that there are these different possible outcomes. And although I don't know that this is explicitly part of the parable, it also sort of points us to the fact that like, because it's not a foregone conclusion about what's gonna happen, maybe there's also something we can do about it. Right? Right. Maybe when we realize someone might be on the rocky soil. Whether we, we have some reason to believe that or we just want to get out in front of that possibility, maybe there's still room to actually get in there and, and move the seed to a different soil, I guess might be a better way to use the metaphor is to, to just take the seed somewhere else or to till the soil, to get the rocks out of the soil. Although this is not talking about like rocks in the soil. It's talking about a layer, probably a layer of bedrock. Like Yes, exactly. Just under the surface. Jesse Schwamb: Right? So Tony Arsenal: there is an immutability about these, these different categories of, of people, and again, this is where like overinterpreting, the parable can get to be problematic, but we, we see that there are these categories, we can't necessarily know which one of these categories a person is in when they have some sort of outward expression of faith where they've received. I think we can tell the difference between that first category. Someone who just has not received the, the gospel at all, has not received the word of God at all, right? Like it's just bounced off of him. It's made no impact. I think we can see that that's a relatively straightforward, um, situation for us to assess. And of course we can't see someone's heart, but it's, it's usually pretty outwardly, readily available to us that they just have not received the word in any means. Right. When we get to these second two categories, that's not the case. We're talking about two different categories of people who have received the word and it has begun to sprout. It has begun, it actually has sprouted, not just begun to sprout, but it's sprouted. Um, I just think we need to be really careful to sort of not place someone in an immutable category until after we've seen what's gonna happen. Yes. Really across their whole life. Jesse Schwamb: Yes. [00:47:41] The Importance of Deep Roots in Faith Jesse Schwamb: I'm glad you brought that up because we really have to remember that in the last three instances, you cannot tell from the soil what the outcome will be. So it is a little bit, I'm with you, kind of a misnomer in the translation. This idea of like rocky soil. Yeah. If it were truly like rocky soil, the way that probably most of us in the Western think of it like soil mixed with gravel, right? They're probably, the sewer would be like, why would I throw it on there like that? That doesn't make any sense. Certainly again, if you're looking for that, that really fertile, well tilled ground, the one that looks promising, you wouldn't do that. So more than likely, I'm with you. We're talking about like a hired limestone layer that would've been like a few inches below, and as the sun would come down, my understanding is of course, like that limestone would heat up. It'd be like the perfect warm environment for like a seed to immediately like spring up with some hope. And that's exactly I think what Jesus is after here. It's this idea that the seed springs up immediately. People receive the message with joy. There's been no root or development to deeper moist soil though, because it doesn't exist. It gets blocked out. But inci incidentally, like the heat of that rock bed actually is the thing that causes it to germinate and produce at least a sprout really, really quickly. But as soon as like any kind of other heat comes upon it, because it cannot not grow deeper because it cannot set the roots, because it cannot get enough water from deep down, then it's going to be quick to die. I think we see this all the time. Maybe we even see this to some degree, not exclusively and in the same kind of magnitude in our own lives. But you know, we may listen to a sermon with pleasure while the impression produced in us is like only temporary, short-lived. You know, our hearts can be like that stony ground. Sometimes it may yield like a plentiful cop clap of warm feelings and like good resolutions and good vibes. How often do we hear that language? But all this time, there may be no deeply rooted work in our souls. And that first like cold blast of oppression or temptation may cause like all of that to go away. What I see interpret it from this particular group and, and this the one that follows it very much the same is like a conversion to religion. So here where this is where I firmly, like, I think we have a class, and this might trigger some people, but I'm gonna say it anyway. We have a class for this to me is deconstructionism. Yeah. And I think what I've, I've been helpful for me is to get outta my mind is that. I'm not sure that we have to be so concerned in this, this metaphor or this great parable about like what's the length of time here? So for instance, is it possible that somebody could be in this place where there is this hard layer of rock, which presents like a setting down of deep roots that could last like years on end. Yeah, where somebody has heard the gospel message has come into the life of the church and finds that this is generally a pleasant way to believe and to live and to express these ideals until maybe they have a strong voice somewhere or they're confronted with the fact that this, their message now is not very tolerant. And so as soon as there comes against them, this push that maybe what you're saying is too exclusive, that all of a sudden there really is a manifestation that there's no real root there. Yeah, there was no conversion. There was a conversion to religious principle and ideas and insomuch as those things didn't push too much against whatever objectives they had. Not even like going after what happens in the the third instance here with all the pleasures of life and all the temptations of the flesh, but just that there is some challenge. To what they believe and that it would be continually lived out in their actual lives, meaningful enough that it would impact behavior, change their mind, and continue to make them outspoken about the thing in which they're setting their roots into that if those things would cause the death of. That sprouts, then to me, that's where we find deconstruction isn't falling. And so in that case, again, it's comforting because it's not a matter of actual conversion as it were. It's not a matter of actual regeneration that hasn't actually occurred. There's plenty of reasons to come alongside and to give the gospel some kind of favor or to give it some kind of acquiescence because it's good on its own. There are lots of things that are good about it, but the rootedness in that is not merely in the outward manifestations of all the benefits of the gospel. It is getting Christ, as we've said. Yeah. And if we're not abiding in Christ, then we will necessarily die. In fact, Christ says elsewhere when he speaks to himself that even every bad branch that does not bear fruit, the father prunes and throws away. And so here we find that happening. It's, this is traumatic, it is dramatic, but this is where I think we see oftentimes Christians really get unnerved and sometimes it really, I think, rocks them when they see people who've had, like you said, Tony, like some professional faith. And I remember us talking about Kanye, and I remember us saying like, I think you and I were cautiously optimistic. We said like, this is fantastic. God does this very thing where he transforms people. And then we see in the long term, in the long run, the manifestation of that transformation, not in just merely as sinner's prayer or some expression of knowing something about the gospel intellectually, but the living it out so that the plant itself grows up in Christ to know of his great love, and then to share and abide in that love where it bears fruit. And so here I find this again, to be just very comforting because I think we see this a lot and our nerves, a lot of Christians, but I think Christ is giving an example here to say, do not be a unnerved by this. [00:53:10] Encouragement for Sowers and Believers Tony Arsenal: Yeah, maybe one last thought and then we, we can push pause until next week when we come back to this parable. Is. I think it's, there's two words in this, um, this little, these two verses here that really stick out to me. There's the, the word immediately, right? Yes. He immediately receives it with joy. That word is repeated later on when he immediately falls away. So there is a, um, there's a, a sense of suddenness to this, to this kind of, I'm using quotation marks if you're not watching the YouTube to this quotation or this, um, conversion experience, right? I think we all know people who have kind of the slow burn conversion experience, right? That's not to say that those people may not be, um, on hard soil or rocky soil. Right. But the, the person that we're talking about in that crisis talking about is the person who hears the word and has every appearance of an outward, radical, outward conversion of joy. And then joy is the second word that that shows up here. One of the things that drives me crazy, you know, maybe just to, to riff off the, the deconstruction, um, narrative a little bit is it drives me crazy when some sort of, um, high profile Christian falls away from the faith or deconstructs or falls, you know, into deep sin and then abandons the faith or has a tragedy happened in their life and whatever reason they abandon the faith. There's this tendency particularly among, I, I think sort of. I don't know if like, there still are young restless reform Christians out there, but I think it's still a valid descriptor. Kind of like the, I'm trying not to be pejorative, but sort of like the surface level tulip is what I call them, like the five point Calvinists who like heard an RC sprawl sermon one time and think that they are like the def, they're the definition of Calvinism. There's this tendency among that demographic that when somebody falls away from the faith to act as though everything about their experience of Christianity was somehow like an act like it was a, it was a, it was a play they were putting on, they were deceiving everybody. Right. That's that's not real. It's not the, it's not the way that it actually works and, and. I think the, um, the flip side and the caution for us in that is that just because our experience of Christianity and our, our experience of being in the faith feels so genuine and real and rooted, we should also recognize that like it felt real and genuine and rooted for Derek Webb or for name, name your key, you know, Joshua Harris, name your big profile deconstruction person of the day. Um, there's a caution there for us and I think that's the caution here in this, um, in this, I dunno, part of the parable is. Just as this is saying, the reason that the person falls away immediately is because there is no root in them yet he has no root in himself, but endures for a while, and when tribulation or persecution arises on account of the word, he immediately falls away, right? The cause of this is because there is no route that ca

In times of national tragedy, can we resist the urge to turn our grief into political ammo? Sadly, our current leaders can't seem to find their better angels. So who's gonna do the right thing?

How do you react when a client shares a perspective that fundamentally contradicts everything you believe about fairness, justice, or human dignity? In that moment, you face a choice that could define this session AND the entire coaching relationship. We need to know how to respond when our deeply held beliefs collide with our client's worldview. Our focus for today's show is relevant and timely because it is a reality we face more than ever in this polarized world. It is a challenging aspect of professional coaching, and we need to be prepared to navigate this divide. We are discussing practical tools and a framework for maintaining your professional integrity while honoring your client's integrity and growth. Join us to learn more!Show Highlights:The reality of today's polarized world: We are more and more likely to encounter clients with deeply rooted differences in values than our own.4 key themes in navigating these values challenges:Focus on process over content to maintain coaching effectiveness.Use curiosity as the bridge when perspectives diverge.Develop the emotional regulation to stay present in the face of discomfort. Cultivate our own self-awareness to recognize when our values might be interfering with our client's journey.Coaching is about the client's agenda—not the coach's agreement with that agenda.Our job, as a coach, is to balance, support, and challenge that agenda.Genuine curiosity transcends judgment and opens possibilities.Stay present and remain focused in each session; recognize when your personal triggers are activated.Use self-awareness to benefit the client.Notice the red flags when your emotional reactions compromise your effectiveness.Understanding client-coach compatibility and boundariesEthical considerations to think about regarding race, bias, gender, religion, etc. The core value of humanity in the ISSPractical tools for self-reflection (Download my assessment guide to help.)Using collaborative (not judgmental) language about the client-coach partnershipThe coaching mindset in action: Be open, curious, flexible, and client-centered.Don't be afraid of vulnerability and authenticity!Your own self-awareness is non-negotiable!Mindset is everything.Resources:Connect with MegCoach's Self-Reflection GuideExplore past episodes and other resources at www.STaRcoachshow.com. Explore the STaR Coach Community and see what's available there for you!Visit the STaR Coach Show YouTube Channel! Subscribe today! Join our live show taping on the 3rd Thursday of every month at 1 pm CT.

In Part 2 of our conversation with social psychologist and best-selling author Amy Cuddy, we delve deeper into the transformative science of presence and its impact on our confidence, success, and personal growth. Known for her groundbreaking TED Talk and book Presence, Amy shares the power of body language and its profound impact on our emotional states and performance. From power poses to overcoming self-doubt, this episode explores practical tools for embracing your personal power, connecting authentically, and overcoming life's challenges with unshakable confidence.Tune in to discover how small changes in posture and mindset can help you tap into your fullest potential when it matters most, whether in the boardroom, on stage, or in daily life. Amy's insights on how our bodies influence our minds and the world around us will leave you empowered to take on any challenge with poise and assurance.What We Discuss:[00:00] Introduction to the Science of Presence[03:00] The concept of power posing and how it affects both our internal confidence and how we are perceived by others.[08:40] Amy discusses how power posing has made its way into popular media, from Ted Lasso to Grey's Anatomy, and what these portrayals teach us about confidence.[13:06] Practical ways to apply power posing and mental visualization techniques in everyday situations to boost personal power.[19:09] Amy reflects on the societal struggle with self-doubt and confidence, offering insights on how we can reconnect with our authentic selves to cultivate true inner power.[28:11] Amy shares a practical exercise to help listeners identify their core values and affirm their true selves for greater confidence and reduced stress.Notable Quotes:[25:59] - “Presence is about getting people to a place where they really see each other and can affirm them in that way.” - Amy Cuddy[26:18] - “When we are present with somebody else, we invite them to be present with us. Genuine attention is so rare, and it's a gift we can give.” - Amy Cuddy[13:26] - “Confidence isn't about being perfect. It's about owning who you are, flaws and all, and embracing the power you already have within you.” - Amy Cuddy[20:59] - “To avoid criticism, do nothing. But when you're focused on growth, even mistakes become part of your progress.” - Amy CuddyResourcesParadigm Shifting BooksPodcastInstagram YouTube BookPresence: Bringing Your Boldest Self to Your Biggest ChallengesAmy CuddyWebsiteInstagramLinkedInBritain CoveyLinkedIn InstagramStephen H. CoveyLinkedInX

To become a follower of Jesus, visit: https://MorningMindsetMedia.com/MeetJesus  (NOT a Morning Mindset resource)   ⇒ TODAY'S DAILY SPONSOR: This episode sponsored by Morning Mindset listener Olyvia, In loving memory of her grandmother Ruby Johnson who always reminded her to keep God first.   You can sponsor a daily episode of the Morning Mindset too, by going to https://MorningMindsetMedia.com/DailySponsor ➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖ TODAY'S SCRIPTURE: 1 Peter 1:3–7 - [3] Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, [4] to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, [5] who by God’s power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. [6] In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, [7] so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. (ESV) ➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖ FINANCIALLY SUPPORT THE MORNING MINDSET: (not tax-deductible) -- Become a monthly partner: https://mm-gfk-partners.supercast.com/ -- Underwrite one daily episode: https://MorningMindsetMedia.com/daily-sponsor/ -- Give one-time: https://give.cornerstone.cc/careygreen -- Venmo: @CareyNGreen ➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖ FOREIGN LANGUAGE VERSIONS OF THIS PODCAST: Subscribe to the SPANISH version: https://MorningMindsetMedia.com/Spanish Subscribe to the HINDI version: https://MorningMindsetMedia.com/Hindi Subscribe to the CHINESE version: https://MorningMindsetMedia.com/Chinese ➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖ CONTACT: Carey@careygreen.com  ➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖ THEME MUSIC: “King’s Trailer” – Creative Commons 0 | Provided by https://freepd.com/   ***All NON-ENGLISH versions of the Morning Mindset are translated using A.I. Dubbing and Translation tools from DubFormer.ai ***All NON-ENGLISH text content (descriptions and titles) are translated using the A.I. functionality of Google Translate.