Podcasts about Loneliness

https://wels2.blob.core.windows.net/daily-devotions/20260104dev.mp3 Listen to Devotion “I delight greatly in the LORD; my soul rejoices in my God. For he has clothed me with garments of salvation and arrayed me in a robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom adorns his head like a priest, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.” Isaiah 61:10 You Are What You Wear Some have said, “You are what you wear.” If you are in a clown suit, you probably are a clown. If you’re wearing a baseball hat, team jersey, baseball pants, and cleats, you probably are a baseball player. If you are wearing a beautiful white wedding dress, you probably are a bride. You are what you wear. By birth, we needed new spiritual clothes to wear. Why? Because, by nature, we are sinful people who are wearing sinful, dirty, greedy clothes. Thankfully, through Jesus, God has given us new spiritual clothes. The prophet Isaiah wrote that, “He has clothed me with garments of salvation and arrayed me in a robe of righteousness.” The LORD himself has given us his garments of salvation; he has dressed us in his robe of righteousness. “Righteousness” is a word that means “perfection.” How did he do this? First, Jesus lived a perfect life; he was robed in righteousness. Then Jesus lovingly made a trade. He dressed us in his perfection and clothed himself with our sinfulness. Taking our sins on himself, he suffered the punishment we deserved. By his death, he paid for our sins so that we will never have to. As a result, we can delight greatly in the Lord! Martin Luther put it this way: “In his righteousness I live, not in mine.” In the end, who are we? Check out Isaiah’s description of our clothes once again. We are saved. We are perfect in God’s eyes. We are what we are wearing—beautifully perfect in the pure clothing given to us by God himself. Prayer: Dear Jesus, thank you for becoming what you were not, so that I might become what I was not. Give me great joy as I remember who I am through you—one who is clothed in a garment of salvation and arrayed in a robe of righteousness for all time. Amen. Daily Devotions is brought to you by WELS. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License. All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. ™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide.

https://wels2.blob.core.windows.net/daily-devotions/20260103dev.mp3 Listen to Devotion In all their distress he too was distressed, and the angel of his presence saved them. In his love and mercy he redeemed them; he lifted them up and carried them all the days of old. Isaiah 63:9 In Distress The “damsel in distress” is a character often found in books and movies. She is usually helpless, in a dire predicament, and unable to save herself. Tied to the railroad tracks with a train barreling toward her or locked away in some tall tower, her only hope is for someone to come and rescue her. The hero rides in on his white horse and, with superior strength, he wins the day, many times with little effort or cost. Jesus is a different kind of hero. While Jesus won the day, he didn’t do it by coming in on a white horse. Rather, Jesus saved us in our distress by becoming distressed. Yes, Jesus came to rescue us by putting on flesh and being made like us in every way. He knows what our distress is like. He saved us because he knows what it is to cry and to be hungry. He saved us because he knows what it is to have friends leave and to be disappointed with others. He saved us because he knows what it means to be tempted to sin, and he knows what it takes to resist sin. He knows what it takes to have Satan come after him and what it takes to send him running. Most of all, he saved us because he knows what it takes to pay for our sin, as he still bears those marks in his hands and feet. This is how Jesus redeemed us and how he lifted us up and carries us. Yes, he came to earth as true God, but also came as true man. Not on a white horse nor a show of strength, he suffered to save us from suffering. Both as a powerful savior and a suffering servant, he came to rescue us. By being distressed for us, he saved us from all distress. Prayer: Father, you sent Jesus to be distressed in our distress. By his coming to earth and through his life and death he lifted us up. In our distress may we always look to his love and redemption. Amen. Daily Devotions is brought to you by WELS. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License. All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. ™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide.

In this episode of The Brave Enough Show, Dr. Sasha Shillcutt discusses:  Loneliness Doesn't Mean You're Broken, It Means You're Human Busyness Is the Most Socially Acceptable Form of Isolation The Armor That Protects You Is Also What Keeps You Alone  Connection Is Built Intentionally, Not Accidentally "The ache you feel isn't weakness, it's your nervous system asking for belonging." - Dr. Sasha Shillcutt   The Boundaries Blueprint, my new, short, on-demand course, is designed to be your toolkit for making small changes that add up to a big reset. In just three easy modules, you'll walk away with your personal plan to: Stop the daily drains on your energy, Set boundaries that stick, Protect a pocket of time that is yours (no excuses). This isn't about overhauling your entire life. It's all about the small shifts that bring powerful change. It's simple, practical, and takes less than one hour! Brave Balance is about transforming your professional and personal life in a safe, small group setting. You will grow deep in self-awareness, set clear boundaries, and develop strong time management skills to create the work-life balance you desperately need (and deserve). Change your mindset to let unhealthy behaviors go, and create long-lasting work-life control so you can live well on YOUR terms. Follow Brave Enough:   WEBSITE | INSTAGRAM | FACEBOOK | TWITTER | LINKEDIN Join The Table, Brave Enough's community. The ONLY professional membership group that meets both the professional and personal needs of high-achieving women.

There's this beautiful spot on the coast of Maine called Bar Harbor, because there's a bar in the harbor. It's a sandbar that's totally exposed at low tide and totally submerged at high tide. The bar goes from the mainland to a little island called (you'll never guess) Bar Island. The island's okay, but you wouldn't want to spend a lot of time there. Although some people do - a lot more time than they had planned to spend. When our family walked across the bar at low tide, we made sure to check that tide chart to see when the tide would be coming back. As we were walking back from the island, the tide had started coming in. Then there were those intelligent tourists who waited a little too long to start back, and suddenly there was no way back! Now, you know what? No one has to be stranded on that island. There is a way off, if you take it! I'm Ron Hutchcraft and I want to have A Word With You today about "Escape From Lonely Island." Lonely Island is not on any map that I know of, but it's an island we've all spent time on. Loneliness is like an emotional island and we can get stranded there when we've been isolated, or ignored, or left out, or forgotten, maybe misunderstood, abandoned. Maybe even today finds you in the middle of another one of your lonely times. The good news is you don't have to be stuck on Lonely Island. Loneliness is ultimately not a prison sentence. It's a choice! Feeling lonely is unavoidable. It's part of being human, but staying lonely is a choice. Just like Bar Island, there are some steps you can take to leave that island. One way to make a lonely time a short time is to find somebody who needs you; to reach out from your loneliness, even if you don't feel like it, to make a difference for someone else. At a time when loneliness leaves you thinking mostly about you, it's important to decide to look beyond yourself. Another antidote to loneliness is to expand your world, especially your circle of friendships. If you take the risks to reach out to more people, you can reduce your trips to Lonely Island. But even with all our efforts to cope with the lonely times, a lot of us carry this gnawing sense of loneliness with us most of the time. It isn't necessarily that there aren't people there for us, it's just that those people have never been enough to fill us up inside. It's like there's always something missing. Actually, like someone missing. Well, there is - the One you were made by - the One you were made for. The incurable loneliness in the human heart is ultimately cosmic loneliness. We're lonely for God. No earth relationship has ever been able to fill the God-shaped hole in your heart. In the words of the Bible, in Isaiah 59:2, "Your sins have separated you from your God." Your sins are all those thousands of choices you've made in your lifetime that disregarded God's way for "your way." So here we are, away from the one person who has the love we're looking for. The only person who knows why we were created; the person we will meet the moment we die. For our word for today from the Word of God, consider this promise from Jesus in light of the loneliness you know all too well. Hebrews 13:5 - "I will never leave you. I will never forsake you." Think of it - unloseable love, unconditional love. Jesus' love for you took Him all the way to a brutal death on a cross, where He gave His life to pay your sin-bill with God. The one whose love you've been looking for all these years is yours the moment you say, "Jesus, I'm Yours." You are one step of faith away from the world's only "never leave you" love. Would you take that step today? "Jesus, I'm yours. I'm pinning all my hopes on You." Our website is there to help you get started. I hope you'll check it out today. It's ANewStory.com. Your anchor relationship could begin this very day and it will never end. Never, no matter what else changes and no matter who else leaves. And you will have just spent your last day alone.

I've been talking about the loneliness epidemic, which is growing in our culture. If you are struggling with loneliness, remember first it's part of being human. And yes, Christians are vulnerable to feelings of loneliness, and it is not necessarily a spiritual issue. Loneliness is a human condition common to everyone at some time in their life. However, if you deal with loneliness in the wrong way, it could lead you to form harmful and inappropriate relationships, to go places and do things you know are not right just to try to find companionship and stop those feelings of loneliness. We all need friends and a support system, but the wrong friends will do you far more harm than good. And keep this in mind: If you try to fill up that lonely place in your heart with people, before looking first to Jesus Christ, you are setting yourself up for further disappointment and it could simply make your loneliness worse rather than better. I had to learn this some years ago, when I had to make a choice to first seek the presence of Christ, to get to know him better, to allow his love to become more real and more powerful in my life, instead of trying to solve my loneliness by looking for a meaningful relationship. A sure-fire way to combat feelings of loneliness is to quote Scripture and fill your mind with truth that can set you free. In verse 5 of Psalm 42, we read, my soul is downcast within me; therefore I will remember you…. Now this is a very good technique and habit. When you feel lonely, you should then force yourself to remember and recite out loud God’s goodness to you in times past. Are you having a tough time today, feeling alone and lonely? Then, stop right now and talk to yourself; find some place where you can say something like, “Look, Mary, what is your problem? The God of all the Universe loves you and cares for you; he’s met your need time and again. Remember, Jesus will never leave you or forsake you, and you have a wonderful Friend in Jesus.” Just recite, out loud if possible, what you know to be true. Finding relief from loneliness is often a choice we make to replace wrong thoughts with right thoughts and decide to live in the truth of God's Word.

Loneliness is one of the most unspoken struggles among gay men, especially as we age, get sober, or outgrow old social circles. In this powerful conversation, licensed therapist Chris Tompkins unpacks why so many gay men feel disconnected even when surrounded by people, apps, and nightlife. This episode explores how sobriety, shame, dating apps, and societal expectations quietly fuel isolation, and what it actually takes to build authentic connection. From the “wounded healer” journey to embracing singleness, self-acceptance, and values-based living, this episode invites gay men to stop chasing validation and start creating lives rooted in truth, alignment, and meaningful connection. Three Key Takeaways Loneliness isn't a personal failure, it's often a byproduct of disconnection from self.Sobriety can reveal who and what is genuinely aligned in your life.Real connection begins when your values, actions, and identity are congruent. About Christopher Chris Tompkins is a Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist who specializes in working with adult gay men. He is also the author of the award-winning book Raising LGBTQ Allies: A Parent's Guide to Changing the Messages from the Playground. In addition to being a therapist, Chris is a writer and public speaker. His work has been featured on TEDx, NBC, HuffPost, Psychology Today, The Advocate, and more. Connect With Christopher Website Instagram LinkedIn Hey Guys, Check This Out! Are you a guy who keeps struggling to do that thing? You know the thing you keep telling yourself and others you're going to do, but never do? Then it's time to get real and figure out why. Join the 40 Plus: Gay Men Gay Talk, monthly chats. They happen the third Monday of each month at 5:00 pm Pacific - Learn More! Also, join our Facebook Community - 40 Plus: Gay Men, Gay Talk Community Break free of fears. Make bold moves. Live life without apologies

https://wels2.blob.core.windows.net/daily-devotions/20260102dev.mp3 Listen to Devotion God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, “Abba, Father.” So you are no longer a slave, but God’s child; and since you are his child, God has made you also an heir. Galatians 4:6-7 Christmas is About Family It’s almost a cliché these days, but it’s true: society has been removing Christ from Christmas for a long time. Ask most people what the holiday is about, and you’ll probably hear “time with family” more often than the birth of the Savior. And while Christians may lament that family has eclipsed Christ, our Bible reading today reminds us that Christmas is about family. Did you catch the good news in today’s Bible passage? Because of Christmas, God has made you part of his family. Jesus Christ is the eternal Son of God. He rightly belongs in God's family. We do not. By nature, we are slaves to sin and estranged from God. But in his mercy, God sent his Son to redeem us and sent his Spirit into our hearts. And with the Holy Spirit dwelling in you, you can confidently call God, “Father.” That is pure grace—the grace of a God who not only forgives but adopts. And what comfort that adoption brings! All of us crave acceptance, belonging, and a sense of home. We often look for it in our earthly families and closest friendships. They are wonderful gifts, yet they can disappoint you, because like you, they are sinful. But the belonging your heart longs for is found fully in your place as a child of God. Because of Christmas, you can call Jesus your brother, and he gladly calls you his brother or sister. And you are part of a remarkable family: believers across the world and across the ages who trust in Christ. One day, you will experience the joy of a family reunion beyond imagining—a gathering that will include loved ones in Christ who died before you. So when your final day comes, you can rest in confidence. You are no longer a slave but God’s child, and since you are his child, you are also his heir. A place in your Father’s house is already prepared, and nothing can take it from you. Prayer: Father, thank you for adopting me as your child through Christ and giving me a place in your family forever. Amen. Daily Devotions is brought to you by WELS. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License. All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. ™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide.

A new JAMA Network Open study found that cutting down social media use to roughly 30 minutes per day had measurable effects on mental health, reducing anxiety by about 16%, depression by about 25%, and insomnia symptoms by 15% Loneliness scores did not change much, which shows that social media can be a lifeline for connection as well as a source of stress Earlier randomized trials from the University of Bath and others also found that a one-week break from platforms like TikTok, Instagram, and Facebook improved wellbeing, depression, and anxiety A short reset is not a cure for depression or anxiety, and does not replace therapy, medication, or crisis care. Still, it can be a realistic experiment that helps you see how specific apps affect your mood, sleep, and focus If you already struggle with your mental health, or if you rely on online communities for support, it makes sense to plan your week carefully and to talk with a trusted health professional about how this kind of experiment fits into your overall care

I’ve been sharing some thoughts on the loneliness epidemic. It’s amazing how many people are very lonely. God makes a home for the lonely; He leads out the prisoners into prosperity. Only the rebellious dwell in a parched land (Psalm 68:6). I have found this verse to be exactly true in my life. As I have allowed God to make a home for me and to accept his presence as sufficient in my life, I have been set free from the awful heaviness of loneliness. That verse says only the rebellious dwell in a parched land. When we refuse to allow God to be our cure for loneliness, when we continue to try to do it our way and fill the empty void with people and activities, we’ll continue to find loneliness our companion. Your feelings of loneliness may be because you are still rebelling against God’s answers. Maybe it's because you don’t like the idea of learning to let him fill up your empty time and change your lonely feelings. Of course, there's no doubt God created us for fellowship and companionship, and we need people in our lives. When Jesus was facing crucifixion, he took his three closest companions with him while he prayed. He needed God's presence, and he needed their presence and support. The Apostle Paul spoke of his need to be with his companions and his encouragers. If you are lonely because you don't have a good friend or friends, or they're not nearby, I would remind you that to have friends, you have to reach out to others and be a friend. Ask yourself what you could do for someone else to be their friend, to meet their need, instead of waiting for someone to be your friend. We reap what we sow—that's a biblical principle. If you want friendships, sow friendships; become a friend to others. Loneliness can be very crippling, but you can take positive steps—by God's grace—to overcome those depressing feelings of loneliness. Of course, the most important step to take is to spend time developing your relationship with Jesus through Bible study and prayer. He is a friend who sticks closer than a brother, and believe me, he can fill the lonely space inside of you.

On the first day of 2026, Raising Godly Girls Podcast hosts Natalie Ambrose and Melissa Bearden officially launch Season 3 with a quick recap of Season 2 topic highlights, including Loneliness and Isolation, the Camp Experience, Honoring Differently-Abled Girls, Loving Without Compromise, Parental Rights, Cancel Culture, Intergenerational Ministry, and Biblical Femininity.     In an insightful part of the conversation, Natalie shares some special highlights from the 2025 AHG 30th Anniversary Convention Raising Godly Girls booth—a corner titled, "I Wish My Mom Knew…" where girls were invited to share their deepest desires with their moms. Some notes echoed of thriving relationships between mother and daughter, and others offered gentle challenge as daughters cried out to be understood, for mothers to pause and relax, and invitations to grow through flaws together as they reflect the Lord in their homes.     Melissa lands the conversation with a positive confidence in our Faithful God to lead us in the coming year, a yearning for Christian parents to really connect with their girls, and a reminder that today matters in eternity—so let's make it count!       Scriptures Referenced in this Episode:    1 John 2:25        Explore more resources to raise girls rooted in Christ at raisinggodlygirls.com.      To find or start an American Heritage Girls Troop in your area, visit americanheritagegirls.org.   

@PermissionToStanPodcast on Instagram (DM us & Join Our Broadcast Channel!), TikTok & YouTube!NEW Podcast Episodes every THURSDAY! Please support us by Favoriting, Following, Subscribing, & Sharing for more KPOP talk!Comebacks: JOOHONEY (MONSTA X) / IDNTT / CHUUMusic Videos (Including Holiday Specials): LNGSHOTLE SSERAFIM will perform at ABC's Dick Clark's New Years Rockin Eve in New YorkJENNIE plans for her first ever photo exhibition "J2NNI5"SBS GAYODAEJEON Christmas End of the Year Show RecapLINE x KPOP Demon HuntersNEWJEANS DANIELLE Contract Termination by Ador/HYBEBTS V 30th Birthday & previews his 2nd Solo PhotobookBTS RM opens up about thoughts on Marriage on another LiveSTRAY KIDS HAN drops Christmas Gift for fans w/ new songs "Raining Stars"STRAY KIDS IN orange hair comeback looking like Zootopia Nick Wilde with fox ears from fansBANGCHAN talks about a soundtrack from an adult gameSupport this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/permission-to-stan-podcast-kpop-multistans/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

https://wels2.blob.core.windows.net/daily-devotions/20260101dev.mp3 Listen to Devotion But when the set time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those under the law, that we might receive adoption to sonship. Galatians 4:4-5 The Greatest Christmas Gift Many people assume Christmas is just a single day, December 25th, or perhaps two if you count Christmas Eve. But it is, in fact, a season of twelve days. Today is the eighth day of Christmas, and God has another present for you to unwrap: the greatest gift of all. This gift arrives “when the set time had fully come.” Not a moment too late or too soon, the gift came at a specific, perfect moment in history, precisely when it was most needed. The gift came from God, because “God sent.” He did all the work; all you do is receive it. What did he send? “His Son, born of a woman.” The eternal God took on human flesh and blood. He who had no beginning suddenly had a birthday, an age, a hometown, and a body confined to time and space. The One who fills heaven and earth humbled himself to dwell among us. This humbling involved being “born under law.” That means he placed himself beneath the very commandments he authored and lived a life of perfect obedience. Jesus wasn’t your Savior only for the six hours he spent on the cross; he spent thirty-three years before that fulfilling the law in your place, as your Substitute. Every commandment you break, he kept flawlessly for you. Why this perfect obedience? “To redeem those under the law.” That’s all of humanity, including you. We are all under God’s law and guilty of breaking it. So, Jesus kept that law for us and bore its punishment on the cross, buying our freedom from our slavery to sin. The glorious result? “That we might receive adoption to sonship.” That’s amazing! In his Son, God the Father has given you the greatest Christmas gift of all: He made you a member of his family. No longer a slave, you are now an heir of forgiveness, peace, comfort, hope, and the everlasting riches of heaven. Prayer: Son of God, thank you for being born under the law to redeem me and make me an heir of heaven. Amen. Daily Devotions is brought to you by WELS. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License. All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. ™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide.

Loneliness is one of the most painful emotions someone can feel. Whether you are lonely and still married, or lonely and going through a divorce, or lonely after divorce, my guest, Divorce Coach, Lisa Lisser is here to help. Lisa offers 3 practices to help you transform your loneliness into emotions that are healthy and hopeful! Read the article on this subject here: https://www.divorcedgirlsmiling.com/3-practices-to-transform-divorce-loneliness/

Are you a lonely person? We’re talking about the loneliness epidemic. With the presence of Christ in our lives, we need not be lonely, no matter how alone we may be. Why, then, are so many Christians lonely? Because they don’t practice the presence of Christ in their lives. You “practice” his presence—you develop the habit of calling on him, talking to him, inviting him to be a part of your life at all times. Could it be you're not practicing his presence because there is some sin that keeps you from sweet, intimate fellowship with God? If you’re living in disobedience to God and you know it, that could be the cause of your loneliness since it’s destroying the sense of God’s presence in your life. Many Christians don’t know God’s presence because they don’t spend enough time with him. You can't practice his presence very well if you’re not saturating your life with God’s Word and prayer. Not long after I had come back to God and made him Lord of my life, I was sitting in my office one Wednesday when it occurred to me, I was facing a weekend with no plans! For singles, that can be seen as the worst of all fates, and in a slight panic I reached for my phone to start calling friends. As I started to dial, the Holy Spirit quietly said to me, “Can’t you trust me? The weekends are in my control just as much as the other days. You can make a weekend alone—with me!” My somewhat fearful response was, “Okay, Lord, I’ll prove you are God of the weekends, too.” So, I made plans to be alone with God for those two weekend evenings. There were some tense moments when I again found myself thinking, “Something must be wrong with me, or I wouldn’t be by myself on a Saturday evening.” But I took my Bible, sat down and asked God to again show me he was God, even of the weekends. I ran to God as my refuge, and I was free. Free from the need to have someone around all the time; free from those self-pitying, self-centered feelings of loneliness. Though it’s a lesson I have had to re-learn from time to time, I can tell you it became a treat to have some quiet Saturday nights by myself. It was a turning point for me, dispelling the fear of being alone. If that is more or less where you are, God wants to do the same for you.

In this episode, Dr. Rena Malik, MD and sex and relationship coach Keeley Rankin discuss navigating sexless marriages, overcoming shame and communication barriers around intimacy, and the impact of modern technology—including porn and AI—on relationships. They offer practical advice for couples struggling with mismatched sexual desires, explore healthy ways to handle jealousy and insecurity, and emphasize the importance of ongoing, open conversations about pleasure and connection. Listeners will walk away with compassionate insights on fostering intimacy and adapting to changes in sexual dynamics over the course of a relationship. Become a Member to Receive Exclusive Content: renamalik.supercast.com Schedule an appointment with me: https://www.renamalikmd.com/appointments ▶️Chapters: 00:00 Sexless marriage: first steps 02:21 Exploring solo sex/outsourcing 03:29 Stressors and low desire 05:12 Navigating shifting attraction 06:06 Ongoing sex conversations 07:09 Porn, sex toys, insecurity 10:00 Addressing porn jealousy 13:24 Balanced sexuality model 14:41 AI, fantasy, and intimacy 17:36 Loneliness, AI, and connection Don't forget to check out  Try Creatone https://tonetoday.com get 20% OFF with discount code: RENA Keeley is giving you an exclusive 20% off for a full month—don't miss it! 20% off discount code is: rena20 on her courses at https://www.keeleyrankin.com Stay connected with Keeley Rankin on social media for daily insights and updates. Don't miss out—follow her now and check out these links! INSTAGRAM - https://www.instagram.com/keeleyrankinintimacycoach/ TIKTOK - https://www.tiktok.com/@keeleyrankinsexcoach?_t=8Wc4J6pGCcQ&_r=1 YOUTUBE - https://m.youtube.com/c/keeleyrankin WEBSITE - www.keeleyrankin.com Let's Connect!: WEBSITE: http://www.renamalikmd.com YOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/@RenaMalikMD INSTAGRAM: http://www.instagram.com/RenaMalikMD TWITTER: http://twitter.com/RenaMalikMD FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/RenaMalikMD/ LINKEDIN: https://www.linkedin.com/in/renadmalik PINTEREST: https://www.pinterest.com/renamalikmd/ TIKTOK: https://www.tiktok.com/RenaMalikMD ------------------------------------------------------ DISCLAIMER: This podcast is purely educational and does not constitute medical advice. The content of this podcast is my personal opinion, and not that of my employer(s). Use of this information is at your own risk. Rena Malik, M.D. will not assume any liability for any direct or indirect losses or damages that may result from the use of information contained in this podcast including but not limited to economic loss, injury, illness or death. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We often talk about a "loneliness epidemic" in modern society. We're more connected than we've ever been, and yet we're feeling more isolated from one another. Blade Runner, for all of its vibrant street life and urban density, has a profound undercurrent of loneliness. In today's episode, Jaime, Patrick, Peter, and Micah are joined by returning guest Dom for a discussion about loneliness in the world of Blade Runner, and how it reflects some of the loneliness we are seeing in the real world around us all. We wish you a happy and healthy close to 2025, and we'll see you in 2026! // For more on this and our other projects, please visit www.bladerunnerpodcast.com  // If you'd like to join the conversation, find us on our closed Facebook group: Fields of Calantha. // To support the show, please consider visiting www.bladerunnerpodcast.com/support. We've got some great perks available! // And as always, please consider rating, reviewing, and sharing this show. We can't tell you how much your support means to us, but we can hopefully show you by continuing to provide better, more ambitious, and more dynamic content for years to come.

https://wels2.blob.core.windows.net/daily-devotions/20251231dev.mp3 Listen to Devotion When Herod realized that he had been outwitted by the Magi, he was furious, and he gave orders to kill all the boys in Bethlehem and its vicinity who were two years old and under, in accordance with the time he had learned from the Magi. Matthew 2:16 The Comfort of Christmas Herod, furious that the Magi left without telling him where Jesus was, went scorched earth and ordered every boy in the vicinity two years old and younger to be killed. Historians estimate that twenty to thirty children were murdered in his desperate attempt to eliminate the Christ child. It is uncomfortable to read this so soon after Christmas. Wouldn’t it be better to skip this part? Why remember such horror during Christmastime? Because it shows what happens when light enters a world of darkness. When the light arrives, the darkness does not politely step aside. It tries to snuff the light out. This is why Jesus came: to battle the darkness that rejected him from his very first days. This same battle between light and darkness continues in your own heart. When Christ’s light shines within you, your sinful nature fights against it. Yet God remains on your side—God rescued his Son from Herod’s sword so that his Son could rescue you from eternal darkness. Jesus’ death and resurrection became the ultimate light that conquers the darkness. And here lies one of the Bible’s hardest truths: though God possesses all power and hates evil, he still permits suffering. So here is the comfort of Christmas: God may save us from evil, or he may save us through evil. The boys of Bethlehem died tragically, but Christ the Savior was born not to save them from Herod, but from hell, and that is what he did. With God, wherever there is weeping, comfort follows. The grieving mothers of Bethlehem would see their sons again because their King came to save them through tragedy into heaven’s triumph. This is the comfort of Christmas. That even though the darkness could take the boys of Bethlehem away from their parents, it could not take them away from Christ. It cannot take you away from him either. Prayer: Merciful Father, thank you for the comfort of knowing that no darkness can separate me from the light of your Son. Amen. Daily Devotions is brought to you by WELS. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License. All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. ™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide.

You may have heard Ryan and Grant mention the term “Kitchencels” a few times throughout this year. Or maybe several times. Or every other episode (second only to gooning). But what is r/Kitchencels, and why are we so obsessed with it? In this special end-of-year bonus episode, Ryan and Grant break down what exactly makes r/Kitchencels so special. Together, they analyze what the subreddit's existence means for internet culture as a whole, and how it could maybe, just possibly, lead to a cure for the male loneliness epidemic.   KEEP LISTENING ! Sign up for a membership at: https://www.patreon.com/PanicWorld and you'll get the rest of this episode, access to ad-free and bonus and extended episodes as well as access to the Garbage Day Discord. Panic World now has SHIRTS! Ryan, and especially Grant, would love it if you would buy yourself one and maybe two more for friends and family: https://store.couriernewsroom.com/products/panic-world-tee Subscribe to Panic World wherever you get your podcasts including here or on YouTube. Panic World is a production of  COURIER. CHAPTERS: 00:00 Intro 02:30 What is r/Kitchencels? 05:30 BREAKING: Ryan doesn't hate Grant 07:25 Using X: We gotta, gang 11:03 Kitchencels is a last bastion of internet insanity 19:45 SPOILERS FOR BUGONIA 22:25 Comparing today's internet to yesterday's 27:00 The endless churning of online culture Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, originally released in 2021, we talk to Rabbi Pini Dunner and Rav Moshe Weinberger about the Yabloner Rebbe and his astounding story of teshuva.The Yabloner Rebbe was a chassidishe rebbe who helped found Kfar Chassidim. He disappeared and went to Los Angeles, where he went off the derech, but he later returned to Judaism and Kfar Chassidim in a remarkable example of teshuva.Who was the Yabloner Rebbe?Why did he leave his faith?What inspired him to return?Tune in to hear a conversation about the astounding story of the Yabloner Rebbe.References:The God of Loneliness by Philip SchultzThe Amazing Return of the Yabloner Rebbe by Rabbi Pini DunnerThe Astonishing Story of the Yabloner Rebbe by Rabbi Pini DunnerMavericks, Mystics & False Messiahs by Rabbi Pini DunnerRabbi Pini Dunner WebsiteBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/18forty-podcast--4344730/support.

Many adults struggle with a quiet, persistent sense of loneliness — even when they're in relationships, surrounded by people, or constantly giving to others. In Episode 3 of 6 in the Adult Children of Emotionally Immature Parents series, we explore emotional loneliness and self-abandonment — how they develop, why they make sense, and how they continue to shape adult relationships, boundaries, and self-connection. In this episode, we discuss: What emotional loneliness really is (and what it isn't) How self-abandonment forms in emotionally immature family systems Why disconnecting from yourself once helped you stay connected to others Common misconceptions about emotional loneliness and independence How these patterns show up in adulthood through over-giving, guilt, and difficulty identifying needs This conversation isn't about blame — it's about understanding the emotional environments we adapted to, so we can begin responding differently now.

Why are fewer Americans volunteering—and why does it matter? Michael digs into new data showing a long-term decline in volunteerism, echoing warnings first raised by Robert Putnam in Bowling Alone. Joined by Wall Street Journal opinion editor Mary Julia Koch, Michael explores how civic engagement has shifted toward episodic, virtual, and performative activism—and what we've lost as a result. They discuss generational trends, loneliness, the rise of online substitutes for real connection, and why volunteering doesn't just help communities—it strengthens the people who do it. From tutoring students to mentoring veterans, listeners across the country share how showing up has changed their lives. In a fragmented, self-sorted society, volunteering may be one of the last true “mingle” experiences left. Original air date 4 December 2025. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

I’m talking about loneliness. Not just missing someone you love, but the invasive sense of loneliness that controls the lives of so many people. Indeed, we find ourselves in a loneliness epidemic today, with more and more people feeling alone, left out, and isolated. It's important to understand that activity, people, marriage are not the cures for loneliness. If they are, then we are doomed to a roller-coaster life, because none of those things are guaranteed to us. Activities ebb and flow, people come in and out of our lives, the most wonderful marriage in the world can be severed through death. If you’re lonely today, are you willing to let God change your thinking about being alone? That’s where we begin. But it takes more than that. God recognized our need for companionship, our need to be loved and to feel secure. And he has provided for that need completely. Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you (Hebrews 13:5). If you will apply this incredible promise to your life, it can be the beginning of knowing freedom from those awful feelings of loneliness. Please believe what I’m telling you. It's not a cliché; it's truth! That lonely place inside you can be filled when you learn to live in the knowledge that Jesus is the ever-present Lord. That is his gift to you when you are born from above. Let me share with you a poem by an anonymous writer which says this so well: There is a mystery in human hearts;                                 And though we be encircled by a host Of those who love us well, and are beloved, To every one of us, from time to time, There comes a sense of utter loneliness: Our dearest friend is stranger to our joy, And cannot realize our bitterness.   So when we feel this loneliness, it is The voice of Jesus saying, “Come to me”; And every time we are “not understood,” It is a call to us to come again; For Christ alone can satisfy the soul, And those who walk with him from day to day, Can never have a “solitary way.”   And would you know the reason why this is? It is because the Lord desires our love: In every heart he wishes to be first. He therefore keeps the secret key himself, To open all its chambers and to bless With perfect sympathy and holy peace, Each solitary soul that comes to him. With Christ you don’t have to feel that ever-abiding despair of being lonely. He has come to abolish it, and he is totally capable of doing just that, if you will allow him to.

During the holidays, the noise keeps grief at bay, gifts, gatherings, constant motion. But when the celebrations end and the quiet returns, the loneliness hits hard. What do you do then?In this episode of Infinite Life, Infinite Wisdom, Susan Grau opens a sacred conversation about the loneliness that often surfaces after the holidays. She shares from her own lived experience of loss and explains why grief can intensify once the celebrations are over. While the holidays demand strength, resilience, and holding it together, the quiet afterward gives grief space to finally breathe.Susan gently explains that this emotional wave is not regression or failure. It is the heart exhaling after holding its breath. She explores the spiritual meaning behind post-holiday loneliness, reminding listeners that loneliness does not mean love is gone. It means love is still alive.Through powerful insights from Spirit, Susan reveals how loved ones draw closer in the quiet moments, standing exactly where the emptiness is felt most. With compassion and clarity, she offers simple guidance for walking through this tender season without rushing the healing process.This episode is a reminder that even in the heaviest silence, you are not alone. Love does not end. It only changes form.In This Episode:[00:00] Introduction [00:46] Episode topic overview[01:11] The holiday hustle and grief suppression[02:12] The wave of grief after the holidays[03:08] Grief intensifies in the quiet[04:07] Adjusting to the new quiet[05:09] Why grief feels heavier after the holidays[08:08] The emotional crash and release[11:33] Loneliness as a sign of love[12:34] The power of memories and mediumship[13:26] Love persists beyond death[14:28] Spiritual presence after the holidays[15:27] Recognizing and feeling spiritual presence[17:28] Plugging into the presence of loved ones[18:30] The heart settles and healing begins[19:28] The nature of healing[20:35] Gentle guidance for post-holiday grief[21:28] Honesty and connection as healing tools[22:26] Loneliness is a feeling, not a verdict[23:29] Spirit's message: You are not alone[24:31] Love continues and expands[25:32] You are healing in real time[26:33] Grief as the great healer[27:34] Closing and final encouragementNotable Quotes[00:50] “I feel like after the holidays, the quiet loneliness of grief really creeps in. I know it does for me.”[04:54] “Sometimes the quiet is where grief speaks the loudest.”[14:28] “Loneliness after loss does not mean you're empty. It means your love is still alive.”[14:43] “Spirit often comes close during holidays because my heart is already open... but after the holidays, that's when I feel them lean in even closer.”[16:56] “Here's something I hear again and again from spirit: ‘I'm standing exactly where you think the emptiness is.'”[19:40] “Healing is not loud. It's not dramatic. It's not linear. Healing is subtle... It shows up in breath, in realizations, in small shifts.”Susan GrauSusan Grau is an internationally celebrated intuitive life coach, a key opinion leader, author, medium and speaker, who discovered her ability to communicate with the spirit world after a near-death experience at age four. Trained by Dr. Raymond Moody, James Van Praagh, and Lisa Williams, Susan is a Reiki Master, hypnotherapist, and grief therapist. Her new book, "Infinite Life, Infinite Lessons," published by Hay House, explores healing from grief and the afterlife. With media coverage in GOOP, Elle, and The Hollywood Reporter, Susan's expertise extends to podcasts, radio shows, and documentaries. She offers private mediumship readings, life path guidance, reiki sessions, and hypnotherapy, aiding individuals in healing and finding spiritual guidance.Resources and LinksInfinite Life, Infinite Wisdom Podcast Infinite Life, Infinite WisdomSusan GrauWebsiteOrder FacebookInstagramYouTubeTikTokMentionedInfinite Life, Infinite Lessons Wisdom from the Spirit World on Living, Dying, and the In-Between by Susan GrauSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

I share a personal anecdote which highlights the value of a simple, faithful life. A huge thanks to Seth White for the awesome music!Thanks to Palmtoptiger17 for the beautiful logo: https://www.instagram.com/palmtoptiger17/Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/thewayfourth/?modal=admin_todo_tourYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCTd3KlRte86eG9U40ncZ4XA?view_as=subscriberInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/theway4th/ Kingdom Outpost: https://kingdomoutpost.org/My Reading List Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/21940220.J_G_ElliotPurity of Heart is to Will One Thing: https://www.religion-online.org/book/purity-of-heart-is-to-will-one-thing/Arendt on Loneliness: https://web.archive.org/web/20250731200849/https://www.vox.com/vox-conversations-podcast/23048597/vox-conversations-hannah-arendt-totalitarianism-the-philosophersHeschel's Sabbath: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/345500.The_Sabbath Thanks to our monthly supporters J Phillip Mast Laverne Miller Jesse Killion ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

https://wels2.blob.core.windows.net/daily-devotions/20251230dev.mp3 Listen to Devotion So he got up, took the child and his mother during the night and left for Egypt, where he stayed until the death of Herod. And so was fulfilled what the Lord had said through the prophet: “Out of Egypt I called my son.” Matthew 2:14-15 Out of Egypt The words in our Bible reading today show that even as a baby, Jesus was already fulfilling prophecy and establishing his credentials as the promised Savior. When King Herod sought to murder the Christ child, God sent the holy family fleeing to Egypt. Seven hundred years earlier, Hosea had foretold that God’s Son would go there and return—and now Jesus, cradled in his mother’s arms, was living out that prophecy. To understand this fulfillment, though, we must recall Israel’s story. Over three thousand years ago, God adopted a nation of slaves and called them his son. He brought Israel out of Egypt, led them through the wilderness, and gave them a new home in Canaan. But Israel did not always return their Father’s love. The people he rescued turned to false gods and sacrificed to idols. Through prophets like Hosea, God warned his disobedient children what would happen if they refused to repent. They deserved punishment for their idolatry. Yet God could not stop loving his son. That is the backdrop for Matthew’s quotation. Jesus is the perfectly obedient Son of God—so fully identifying with God’s people that his life mirrors theirs. As Israel once went down to Egypt, so he went down to Egypt. As Israel was called out, so he was called out. Where Israel failed, Jesus succeeded; where Israel rebelled, Jesus obeyed. And he obeyed for you! When the time had fully come, God sent his beloved Son to be born in Bethlehem, to live as the obedient child you were meant to be, to die on the cross, and to rise again so you could be brought into God’s family. He loved you so much that he poured out his Spirit into your heart so you can cry, “Father!” and know that the Almighty delights to hear you, protect you, bless you, and save you. Even though you have been a rebellious child, God’s grace is greater than your guilt. His love at the manger and the cross is more than enough to bring peace on earth and good will to men. Prayer: Father, thank you for fulfilling your Word by calling your Son out of Egypt, so that I am your own dear child. Amen. Daily Devotions is brought to you by WELS. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License. All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. ™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide.

In this episode of "Next Steps 4 Seniors: Conversation on Aging," host Wendy Jones and guest Pastor Lorenzo Sewell from 180 Church in Detroit discuss the emotional complexities of aging during the holiday season. They emphasize the importance of forgiveness, letting go of regrets, and the joy of giving. Pastor Sewell shares personal stories and encourages listeners to reflect on their relationships and cherish memories of loved ones. The episode highlights the significance of community, connection, and spiritual reflection, urging listeners to embrace the holiday season with an open heart and to find fulfillment in acts of kindness and generosity. Have questions or suggestions? Call 248-651-5010 or email hello@nextsteps4seniors.com. For podcast topics or sponsorship opportunities, contact marketing@nextsteps4seniors.com. Don’t forget to subscribe, follow, and share on your favorite podcast platform. Visit NextSteps4Seniors.com to learn more and explore additional resources. Let’s take the next steps together! Introduction to the Podcast (00:00:00)Wendy introduces the podcast and its purpose to help seniors with resources and information. Season of Giving (00:00:31)Wendy discusses how aging prompts reflections on life, forgiveness, and regrets during the holiday season. Welcoming Pastor Lorenzo Sewell (00:01:18)Pastor Sewell is introduced, highlighting his role and understanding of the emotional aspects of aging. Importance of Letting Go (00:01:53)Pastor Sewell emphasizes the need to let go of unforgiveness and regret during the season of giving. Maturity and Reflections on Life (00:02:30)Wendy and Pastor Sewell discuss how aging brings deeper reflections on life and relationships. Dealing with Loss During the Holidays (00:03:19)Pastor Sewell shares personal experiences of loss and encourages listeners to find comfort in God's presence. Giving Grace to Oneself (00:03:44)The speakers discuss the importance of forgiving oneself and recognizing imperfections in life. Encouragement to Reach Out (00:04:24)Wendy encourages listeners to mend relationships by reaching out and apologizing to those they’ve hurt. Emotional Gifts of the Season (00:05:16)Pastor Sewell highlights giving emotional support, love, and forgiveness as vital gifts during the holidays. Maximizing Moments (00:06:15)Pastor Sewell reflects on living with joy and giving selflessly without expecting anything in return. Sacrificial Giving (00:07:23)The speakers discuss the significance of giving sacrificially and helping those in need. Coping with Heartache (00:08:15)Wendy addresses listeners dealing with loss and encourages focusing on positive memories. Finding Joy in Helping Others (00:10:15)Wendy suggests that helping others can bring joy and alleviate feelings of loneliness. Returning to Conversations on Aging (00:11:57)Wendy welcomes listeners back and emphasizes the importance of deeper conversations about aging. Forgiveness and the Afterlife (00:13:05)Wendy shares the importance of forgiveness and spiritual beliefs at the end of life. Historical Context of Jesus' Birth (00:13:31)Pastor Sewell discusses the prophetic details surrounding the birth of Jesus. Personal Transformation Through Faith (00:15:38)Pastor Sewell shares his personal story of transformation and the power of faith in changing lives. Encouragement to Seek a Relationship with God (00:16:52)Pastor Sewell invites listeners to consider a relationship with God as the ultimate gift this season. Understanding Pain and Loss (00:17:48)Pastor Sewell shares personal experiences of loss and questions about faith during difficult times. The Story of Job (00:18:35)Discussion on Job’s suffering and the belief that God has a purpose behind pain. God's Promise of Restoration (00:19:30)Encouragement that God will provide healing and restoration for past troubles if one believes. Prayer for Healing (00:20:15)Pastor Sewell leads a prayer to fill the void and pain for listeners. Embracing Love and Hope (00:21:06)Wendy emphasizes the importance of love and hope during the holiday season and encourages sharing. Community and Support (00:22:12)A reminder that we are not alone in our struggles and the importance of supporting one another. Call to Action (00:22:40)Listeners are encouraged to reach out, connect, and make a difference in others' lives.Learn more : https://nextsteps4seniors.com/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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Terry Real is a therapist and best-selling author expert on male emotional health and how men can build the skills for healthy relating to others: in relationships, work, friendships and to themselves. We discuss how mixed and ever-changing messages about what masculinity is are impacting the mental and physical health of men and boys. Terry explains how learning the skill of "relationality" leads to improvements in all aspects of boys' and men's lives and shares practical tools for how to do that. We also discuss the essential role of having a close male community to build confidence and self-esteem. This conversation offers actionable guidance for boys, men and women seeking to build healthier relationships with themselves and others. Read the episode show notes at hubermanlab.com. Thank you to our sponsors AG1: https://drinkag1.com/huberman BetterHelp: https://betterhelp.com/huberman David: https://davidprotein.com/huberman Function: https://functionhealth.com/huberman Waking Up: https://wakingup.com/huberman Timestamps (00:00:00) Terry Real (00:02:53) Men & Masculinity, Political vs Psychological Patriarchy, Feminism (00:07:39) Stoicism, Vulnerability, Traditional Masculinity, Emotions (00:10:50) Sponsors: BetterHelp & David (00:13:14) Masculinity Across Decades, Giving; Gratification vs Relational Joy (00:21:54) Healthy Emotional Expression, Connection & Vulnerability; Self-Esteem (00:31:17) Feeling Emotions, Tools: Asking For Help; Fights & "What Do You Need?" (00:35:10) Self-Esteem & Relationship Accountability; Criticism, Redefining Strength (00:40:47) Sponsor: AG1 (00:42:32) Healthy Criticism, Tool: Women & Articulating Needs (00:50:21) Childlike Behavior, Wise Adult & Trauma, Tool: Relational Mindfulness (00:58:11) Tool: Responsible Distance Taking; Self-Interest; Relationship "Biosphere" (01:08:14) Alcohol, Men & Friends, Loneliness, Men's Retreat (01:17:51) Fraternities, Men's Groups, Tool: Relationship vs Individual Support (01:25:39) Sponsor: Function (01:27:27) Lack of Male Friends, Hiking, Community, Teaching Young Men (01:36:11) Cannabis, Alcohol, Young Men & Purpose, Flexibility & Manliness (01:40:40) Work, Life Purpose & Men; Skillful Warriors (01:45:01) Absent Fathers; Early Childhood & Proper Nurturing; Caretaking (01:53:24) Sponsor: Waking Up (01:54:47) Women & Speaking Relationally, Objectivity Battle (01:59:02) Addiction & Disconnection, 12-Step Meetings & Fellowship (02:08:04) Pornography, Internet, Intensity vs Intimacy; Optimization (02:11:57) Tool: Families & Hanging Out; Relational Joy; Relational Recovery (02:22:29) Giving Criticism, Tools: Make Requests; Feedback Wheel (02:28:21) Gratitude, Aging; Skillful Fighting in Relationship & Repair (02:34:17) Men & Self-Esteem, Mentors, Tool: Inner Dialogue without Harshness (02:44:00) Y Chromosome, Wholeness (02:48:00) Zero-Cost Support, YouTube, Spotify & Apple Follow, Reviews & Feedback, Sponsors, Protocols Book, Social Media, Neural Network Newsletter Disclaimer & Disclosures Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The concept of alone time has long been framed as a cause for concern, but research shows that intentional solitude actually has a lot of perks.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In tonight's sleep meditation with Karissa, we're going to be meditating on loneliness. It's a common feeling to experience, but remember- you're not alone. Wrap yourself in self-love tonight, and fall asleep in a state of peace. This episode was originally released on our premium feed in the Summer, but as we're away for the holidays, we're bringing it back for everybody to benefit from

Send us a Positive Review!Series title: Mormon Faith Crisis—Progression, Not Pathology [Part II of III]In today's episode Valerie and guest researcher Jeff Strong explore why people in the same LDS congregation can experience church so differently, depending on where they are in their faith journey. They introduce Jeff's model of six faith mindsets—seekers, cultivators, protectors, avoiders, connectors, and explorers—each representing valid and meaningful ways of engaging faith. The problem? That many of these healthy and normal ways of engaging with one's faith journey are pathologized within the LDS culture at both local and general levels. Valerie and Jeff hope that research like Jeff's and platforms like Latter Day Struggles will place growth where it actually belongs--as normal, natural, and precisely what each of us are here on this earth to do. Timestamps:00:00 – Introduction and Welcome00:22 – Series Overview and Jeff's Background01:18 – Exploring Church Demographics and Tensions02:45 – Review of Previous Episode04:00 – Cultural Causes of Tension05:30 – The Weight of Disaffiliation07:00 – Research Methodology and Data Collection07:58 – Strengths of LDS Culture09:45 – Personal Reflections on Community11:35 – Weaknesses of LDS Culture13:20 – The Soil Metaphor for Culture15:00 – The River Metaphor: Rigidity vs. Chaos17:10 – The Impact of Cultural Rigidity18:45 – The Struggle for Belonging20:09 – Stages of Faith Development22:00 – Simplicity and Complexity Explained23:45 – Perplexity and Harmony Explained25:30 – Faith Journeys and Community Reactions27:00 – The Pain of Being Misunderstood28:22 – Personal Faith Journeys29:47 – The Garden of Eden Metaphor30:47 – Pathologizing Growth in Faith32:00 – The Need for Community Support33:09 – Community and Belonging33:52 – Brian McLaren's Model in Scriptures35:30 – The Arc of Human Spiritual Growth37:25 – Understanding Different Faith Mindsets39:00 – Disparities in Perceptions of Christ-Centeredness40:30 – The Loneliness of Nonconformity42:04 – Introducing the Six Segments44:00 – Descriptions of Each Segment46:00 – The Dynamic Nature of Faith Mindsets47:00 – Encouragement for Self-Reflection48:24 – Conclusion and Next StepsSupport the showSupport the show Listen, Share, Rate & Review EPISODES Friday Episodes Annual Access $89 Friday Episodes Monthly Access $10 Valerie's Support & Processing Groups Gift a Scholarship Download Free Resources Visit our Website

In this episode of the Celebrate Kids podcast, Dr. Kathy explores the profound impact of scripture on identity and personal growth. She reflects on the tendency many have to rely on their own problem-solving abilities rather than turning to prayer or the teachings of the Bible, especially when facing challenges as parents. Dr. Kathy emphasizes the importance of embracing the truth of scripture to foster a deeper understanding of oneself and to experience the goodness of God. She also discusses insights from the American Bible Society's study, "The Eighth Chapter," which examines the state of the Bible in the USA, highlighting the necessity of scripture in rebuilding identity for both adults and children. Tune in for an enlightening conversation that encourages listeners to seek out the light of truth in their lives.

The holidays are thought to be a time of gathering with friends and family, but many also spend the season alone, either by choice or not. Being alone especially around the holidays can feel challenging, but it doesn't have to be! Comedian Josh Gondelman, known for his pep talks, discusses how to break the stigma of being lone during the holiday season, and listeners share their stories and tips.

[REBROADCAST FROM Oct. 2, 2025] The novel The Loneliness of Sonia and Sunny has been shortlisted for the Booker Prize and is a Kirkus Prize finalist. Author Kiran Desai discusses the novel, which tells the story of one couple throughout their lives in India and New York City.

Did you realize loneliness is at epidemic levels? If you google “loneliness epidemic,” you will find pages of articles on the effect of loneliness. We have more and easier ways of communicating than ever before, and yet indeed our technological advances are part of the cause for this loneliness epidemic, because we are more isolated than ever. Loneliness is that empty spot in the pit of your stomach that makes life seem meaningless and makes you feel worthless. All of us experience loneliness at times, and when it is a fleeting emotion, it doesn't usually impact your life significantly. However, persistent and pervasive feelings of loneliness are indeed harmful to your health. Normal Cousins has been attributed to saying, “All man's history is an endeavor to shatter his loneliness.” We are designed by God for fellowship, for companionship and when it is missing, it affects our motivation, our self-respect, our happiness—almost every part of our lives. However, we must recognize loneliness and aloneness are two different things. You can be lonely in a crowd or a group of friends or with a mate or friend right there with you. Or you can be all by yourself for extended periods yet not be lonely. Loneliness is a feeling, not a set of circumstances. A single woman in her late twenties shared an experience with me which points out our society’s attitude about aloneness. Since her church had no class for singles, she joined in with the young couples group. One Sunday, she didn’t make it to Sunday school, and her teacher said to her, “I’m so sorry you weren’t at Sunday school today. I was counting on you being there because I knew you’d have lots of good input for our discussion, since we were talking about loneliness today.” People automatically assume being single means you’re lonely because being alone is often seen as the worst thing in the world. This mistaken notion about aloneness causes people to do the most incredible things to avoid being by themselves. I know, because I’ve done some of them. I’ve gone to places I should never have gone to. I’ve been with people I should never have been with. I’ve spent money I never should have spent, just to avoid being alone.

On today's episode, Johnnette Williams is joined by Catholic Psychologist Suzanne Baars! They talk about the effects loneliness can have during the holidays and how to overcome them a day at a time.

On today's episode, Johnnette Williams is joined by Catholic Psychologist Suzanne Baars! They talk about the effects loneliness can have during the holidays and how to overcome them a day at a time.

https://wels2.blob.core.windows.net/daily-devotions/20251229dev.mp3 Listen to Devotion When they had gone, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream. “Get up,” he said, “take the child and his mother and escape to Egypt. Stay there until I tell you, for Herod is going to search for the child to kill him.” So he got up, took the child and his mother during the night and left for Egypt. Matthew 2:13-14 God’s Purpose in Herod’s Fear One moment, the baby Jesus had magi laying treasures at his feet; the next, Joseph was taking him into the night and headed for Egypt. The Light of the world had come, but the darkness fought back. You see, the Magi had first come to Jerusalem and told King Herod that they were looking for the King of the Jews. Herod viewed the baby as a threat, and he didn’t like that. He had already killed three of his sons, his favorite wife, his mother-in-law, his uncle, some cousins, and the high priest for being threats to his crown. Now he targeted a baby. But God saved his Son from an early death because the plan of salvation required that he die on the cross when the time had fully come. He fled as a child so that he could later say, “It is finished” (John 19:30). The world did not change the night Jesus was born, but everything changed the morning he walked out of the tomb. The power of Jesus’ resurrection is already removing the darkness, and he will completely remove it on the Last Day. When evil touches your life, remember it also touched him. The child who fled Herod is the Savior who was “despised and rejected by mankind, a man of suffering and familiar with pain” (Isaiah 53:3). At Christmas, God gifts you his Son, Jesus. Prayer: Lord Jesus, thank you for stepping into this dark world so that you can call me out of it and into your wonderful light. Amen. Daily Devotions is brought to you by WELS. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License. All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. ™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide.

Originally presented on November 18, 1994 in Amherst, MA, this recording is the result of our work digitizing over 600 cassette tapes of Elisabeth's talks. Each tape is decades old and the quality of the recordings varies quite a bit from tape to tape. As we preserve Elisabeth's legacy, we will share as much of her work as possible, even when technical issues affect the quality of the audio. Each talk is unique in content and tone. All are a blessing and encouragement. ---- Music by John Hanson

Lisa Swayze has been the General Manager at Buffalo Street Books for 8 years and will transition to becoming the Executive Director of the bookstore's new literary nonprofit in 2025. Lisa is on the board of directors of the American Booksellers Association and the Downtown Ithaca Alliance. Laura Larson is the owner of Odyssey Bookstore. In 2019 Laura decided to return to her hometown of Ithaca NY to satisfy her life-long dream of opening her own bookstore. Now Laura enjoys spending her days talking about books, reading books and thinking about what to read next. Recommended Books from our Booksellers: Lisa's Favorites Cursed Daughters - Oyinkan Braithwaite The Bone Thief - Vanessa Lillie Wild Dark Shore - Charlotte McConaghy The Hounding - Xenobe Purvis I Want to Burn This Place Down - Maris Kreizman Laura's Favorites Calculation of Volume I-III by Solvej Balle (9780811237253, 9780811237277, 9780811238397) Exophony: Voyages Outside the Mother Tongue by Yoko Tawada (9780811237871) The End of Drum Time by Hanna Pylvainen (9781250871817) January by Sara Gallardo (9781953861641) Beautyland by Marie-Helene Bertino (9781250338020) Marriage at Sea by Sophie Elmhirst (9780593854280) Tainted Cup by Robert Jackson Bennett (9781984820716 The Loneliness of Sonia and Sunny by Kiran Desai (9780307700155) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

How ya doing babe? We're on day 7 of "The 12 Days of Becoming HER Again" and it's all pretty raw.Today we're talking about loneliness after divorce...not as something to fix or outrun, but as something that moves in waves.For many women, loneliness doesn't stay constant. It rises. It crests. And when it hits, it can feel overwhelming.In this episode, Joy and I talk about:Why loneliness after divorce often comes in wavesHow many women try to drown it out instead of ride itThe difference between feeling lonely and being unsafeWhat actually helps when the wave risesWhy resisting loneliness often makes it strongerHow to stay present without collapsing into itThis conversation is about learning how to ride the loneliness wave — letting it move through you without letting it take you under.You don't have to force yourself to feel better. You don't have to make it mean something about your worth. You just need a way to stay with yourself when it shows up.If loneliness has been hitting hard this holiday season, this episode is for you.

https://wels2.blob.core.windows.net/daily-devotions/20251228dev.mp3 Listen to Devotion I will tell of the kindnesses of the LORD, the deeds for which he is to be praised, according to all the LORD has done for us—yes, the many good things he has done for Israel, according to his compassion and many kindnesses. Isaiah 63:7 Mercy and Compassion A highly respected running coach was once asked what he would do if he wanted to make his own son an Olympic runner. He responded, “I would get him a coach that believed he could be an Olympian.” After all his years of training runners, this man had learned that having a coach who believed in his runner was a key component to helping that athlete reach his true potential. Isaiah describes the Lord looking at his people and saying, “Surely they are my people, sons who will not be false to me.” How could the Lord say this when Israel had turned its back on him again and again? It wasn’t that God thought he could make his people better simply by believing in them. No, God calls Israel his people because in his love and mercy, he made them his people. “He became their Savior.” A coach might help an athlete achieve his greatest potential by believing in him, but God has done much more for us. Simply believing in us would not have been enough, because left to ourselves, our only potential was to go our own way and stray further away from him. So, God in his love and mercy redeemed us. By sending his only Son, he bought us back from our destiny of being sinners forever separated from him. This truth causes our Christmas joy to overflow every day of the year. In his loving kindness, the Lord has made us his people, who are given the righteousness and obedience of his Son. What’s our response to such mercy and compassion? We can join with Isaiah in saying, “I will tell of the kindnesses of the LORD, the deeds for which he is to be praised, according to all the LORD has done for us.” Prayer: Merciful and compassionate God, I thank you for being my Savior. You have made me your child through the redemption that comes through Jesus Christ. Help me to speak of your kindness, of all that you have done for me. Amen. Daily Devotions is brought to you by WELS. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License. All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. ™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide.

Lisa Swayze has been the General Manager at Buffalo Street Books for 8 years and will transition to becoming the Executive Director of the bookstore's new literary nonprofit in 2025. Lisa is on the board of directors of the American Booksellers Association and the Downtown Ithaca Alliance. Laura Larson is the owner of Odyssey Bookstore. In 2019 Laura decided to return to her hometown of Ithaca NY to satisfy her life-long dream of opening her own bookstore. Now Laura enjoys spending her days talking about books, reading books and thinking about what to read next. Recommended Books from our Booksellers: Lisa's Favorites Cursed Daughters - Oyinkan Braithwaite The Bone Thief - Vanessa Lillie Wild Dark Shore - Charlotte McConaghy The Hounding - Xenobe Purvis I Want to Burn This Place Down - Maris Kreizman Laura's Favorites Calculation of Volume I-III by Solvej Balle (9780811237253, 9780811237277, 9780811238397) Exophony: Voyages Outside the Mother Tongue by Yoko Tawada (9780811237871) The End of Drum Time by Hanna Pylvainen (9781250871817) January by Sara Gallardo (9781953861641) Beautyland by Marie-Helene Bertino (9781250338020) Marriage at Sea by Sophie Elmhirst (9780593854280) Tainted Cup by Robert Jackson Bennett (9781984820716 The Loneliness of Sonia and Sunny by Kiran Desai (9780307700155) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/literature

Anthony Silard, Ph.D. is a Professor of Leadership and the Director of the Center for Sustainable Leadership at Luiss Business School in Rome, CEO of The Global Leadership Institute and the President of The Center for Social Leadership. His leadership programs have helped thousands of people in over 40 countries to create positive, breakthrough personal and social change in their lives and the lives of others.  In this episode Anthony shares his insights about processing loneliness. Don't forget to Subscribe to the show! Purchase Anthony's book: Love and Suffering: Break the Emotional Chains that Prevent You from Experiencing Love.  Visit Anthony's Website: https://theartoflivingfree.org/ ✔️Take the Emotional Detox Quiz  Purchase The Emotional Detox 50 Card Deck

https://wels2.blob.core.windows.net/daily-devotions/20251227dev.mp3 Listen to Devotion All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: “The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel” (which means “God with us”). When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took Mary home as his wife. But he did not consummate their marriage until she gave birth to a son. And he gave him the name Jesus. Matthew 1:22-25 God With Us Hundreds of years before the birth of Jesus, God spoke through the prophet Isaiah that he would be born of a virgin. God inspired the apostle Matthew to write about the fulfillment of that prophecy. Joseph had no sexual relations with Mary until Jesus was born. Joseph was not Jesus' father; God was. Isaiah said that “they will call him Immanuel”—(which means, “God with us).” The baby born of the virgin Mary is God with us—God became a human being because we are unable to save ourselves. We are unable to keep his commandments. We are unable even to do the one thing he requires of us: “Be holy” (Leviticus 19:2). The baby born of the virgin Mary is God with us—God became human to be one of us. To feel like we do. To eat and drink like we do. To walk and talk like we do. To go through what we go through. He didn’t do this because he needed to, but because we needed him to; so that “God with us” would show us that a human could do what God demanded. And so that “God with us” could suffer and die, and in doing so, pay for our sins. Since he is human, he could die. Since he is God, his payment is for all of us, for all time. Joseph gave him the name “Jesus.” His name declares his great purpose for coming from heaven to be with us on earth. He is our Savior who came to take us from earth to heaven! Prayer: Jesus, you came down from heaven to be with us. Your life and death accomplished my salvation. I worship and honor you for your great love. Come again and take me to be with you in heaven. Amen. Daily Devotions is brought to you by WELS. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License. All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. ™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide.

#675: Welcome to Greatest Hits Week – five days, five episodes from our vault, spelling out F-I-I-R-E. Today's letter E stands for Entrepreneurship. This episode originally aired in September 2018, at a moment when startup culture was loud, venture capital was abundant, and entrepreneurship was often framed as something that involves outside investors and rapid growth. ____ In this episode, we rewind the clock to 2018. Remember what entrepreneurship was supposed to look like back then? Build a startup. Raise capital. Scale fast. Get rich. That was the dominant story. But our guest, Rand Fishkin, told a different story – a story about founder burnout, debt, and the downside of startup culture. Rand, the founder of Moz, shares how he and his mother accumulated nearly half a million dollars in debt while running an early services business. He talks about what it felt like to face creditors, negotiate settlements, and keep going under intense financial pressure. From there, we move into one of the most misunderstood ideas in entrepreneurship: the difference between service businesses and product businesses. Rand breaks down the trade-offs. Services generate income faster. Product businesses rely on outside capital. And founders often earn far less than people expect. That leads to a deeper conversation about incentives. Once venture capital enters the picture, priorities shift. Profits matter less. Growth matters more — and it affects both the business and your personal finances. High revenue does not automatically translate into personal wealth. We also talk about the side of entrepreneurship that rarely makes the highlight reels: Loneliness. Anxiety. Depression. And the relief that comes from realizing that even the most successful founders often feel lost while they're building. This conversation feels less like startup advice and more like a long-term framework for thinking clearly about risk, money, and meaning. If you've ever questioned whether entrepreneurship automatically leads to financial freedom, this episode offers a grounded and very honest answer. Timestamps Note: Timestamps will vary on individual listening devices based on dynamic advertising run times. The provided timestamps are approximate and may be several minutes off due to changing ad lengths. (00:00) Facing creditors and repayment negotiations (08:50) How a services business really works (11:40) From consulting to software (15:00) Services vs. product businesses (12:20) Why high revenue doesn't mean personal wealth (25:05) Venture capital incentives (27:50) Founder salaries and financial reality (30:40) Startup mythology vs. lived experience (33:20) Loneliness and mental health (36:15) Founder strengths and weaknesses (39:50) Feedback and self-awareness (42:30) Designing a business that fits your life Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On Christmas Day 2025, Stefan Molyneux addresses loneliness during the holidays, drawing from his own experiences and using the image of a ring marked "this too shall pass." He sets the empty routines of a "dead city" against the process of finding oneself, encouraging people to value their own views. In talks with callers, he shows understanding for loss and difficulties, closing with a note to pursue real bonds and accept who you are amid the celebrations.SUBSCRIBE TO ME ON X! https://x.com/StefanMolyneuxFollow me on Youtube! https://www.youtube.com/@freedomain1GET MY NEW BOOK 'PEACEFUL PARENTING', THE INTERACTIVE PEACEFUL PARENTING AI, AND THE FULL AUDIOBOOK!https://peacefulparenting.com/Join the PREMIUM philosophy community on the web for free!Subscribers get 12 HOURS on the "Truth About the French Revolution," multiple interactive multi-lingual philosophy AIs trained on thousands of hours of my material - as well as AIs for Real-Time Relationships, Bitcoin, Peaceful Parenting, and Call-In Shows!You also receive private livestreams, HUNDREDS of exclusive premium shows, early release podcasts, the 22 Part History of Philosophers series and much more!See you soon!https://freedomain.locals.com/support/promo/UPB2025

America is suffering from a loneliness epidemic. Some groups have suggested religious communities may be key to solving it. Could it help? Those arguing “yes” say it gives people regular social contact, support systems, and a sense of purpose that could combat isolation. Those arguing “no” say that secular options would provide better, broad-based solutions. Now we debate: Can Religion Cure the Loneliness Epidemic?    Arguing Yes:   Harold Koenig, Director of Duke University's Center for Spirituality, Theology and Health   Chris Murphy, Senator from Connecticut     Arguing No:  Ruth Whippman, Author of "America the Anxious: How Our Pursuit of Happiness Is Creating a Nation of Nervous Wrecks" and "BOYMOM: Reimagining Boyhood in the Age of Impossible Masculinity."  Dan Barker, Co-President of the Freedom from Religion Foundation  Emmy award-winning journalist John Donvan moderates  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Welcome back to State of the Culture Pt 2 (Continuation)

It's that time of year when Leah, Melissa, and Kate put on their influencer hats and recommend the things that made their days a little brighter in 2025. This year, they're joined by two special guests: rockstar Strict Scrutiny intern Jordan Thomas to share some of his picks, and former Chair of the Federal Election Commission Ellen Weintraub to discuss two of democracy's favorite things—independent agencies and the regulation of money in politics. Favorite things: WANTLeah: Cozy Earth Bubble Cuddle Blanket, Jones Road Just Enough Tinted MoisturizerKate: Aventura electric scooter, Grüns Superfood Greens GummiesMelissa: True Botanicals, e.l.f. Camo Liquid BlushJordan: Tea Tree Leave-In Conditioner, Pink Oil Moisturizer,  NEEDLeah: Peloton stretching classes, Farmhounds dog treats; Badlands Ranch dog foodKate: custom bobbleheads & action figures, Lilly Allen's tour, Strict Scrutiny's upcoming West Coast tourMelissa: Caddis readers, Blackwing Matte pencils, As Ever RoséJordan: 2026 Evanescence and Korn tours, these headphones WEARLeah: Forme Power Bra, Argent, TheRealRealKate: Strict Scrutiny onesies, Cozy Earth Studio Wide Leg PantMelissa: Quince yak wool sweaters, Uniqlo White T-Shirt, Clearly Collective Collegiate Scarves, WaySoft Cashmere BeanieJordan: Crooked Con Merch, Mavi jeans READLeah: The Wedding People, Alison Espach; Julie Anne Long's Pennyroyal Green series; Lisa Kleypas' Wallflowers series; These Summer Storms, Sarah MacLean; Bury Our Bones in the Midnight Soil, V. E. Schwab; The God of the Woods, Liz Moore; Book of the MonthKate: The Power Broker, Robert Caro; Who Is Government? Michael Lewis; Character Limit: How Elon Musk Destroyed Twitter, Kate Conger & Ryan Mac; The Radical Fund, John Fabian Witt; Isola, Allegra Goodman; Heart the Lover, Lily King; Martyr! Kaveh Akbar; The History of Sound, Ben ShattuckMelissa: Matriarch, Tina Knowles; Black in Blues: How a Color Tells the Story of My People, Imani Perry; Jane Austen's Bookshelf, Rebecca Romney; Atmosphere, Taylor Jenkins Reid; The Book Club for Troublesome Women, Marie Bostwick; The Loneliness of Sonia and Sunny, Kiran DesaiJordan: Lawless, Leah Litman; The Sirens' Call, Chris Hayes; Bad Law, Elie Mystal; Charles Sumner: Conscience of a Nation, Zaakir Tameez; Just Shine! How to Be a Better You, Sonia SotomayorEllen: Deanna Raybourn's Veronica Speedwell Mysteries; Everyone in My Family Has Killed Someone, Benjamin Stevenson; The Black Wolf, Louise Penny; Shakespeare: The Man Who Pays the Rent, Judi Dench; This Is Happiness, Niall Williams; Elizabeth Strout; Amor Towles Get tickets for STRICT SCRUTINY LIVE – The Bad Decisions Tour 2025! 3/6/26 – San Francisco3/7/26 – Los AngelesLearn more: http://crooked.com/eventsOrder your copy of Leah's book, Lawless: How the Supreme Court Runs on Conservative Grievance, Fringe Theories, and Bad VibesFollow us on Instagram, Threads, and Bluesky Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.