Podcasts about self deception

Dr. Christian B. Milleris the A. C. Reid Professor of Philosophy at Wake Forest University. He was most recently the Director of the Honesty Project. His new book is The Honesty Crisis: Preserving Our Most Treasured Virtue in an Increasingly Dishonest World. Honesty is a character trait that is critical to individual and societal ethics. An honest person does not lie, steal, or deal in self-deception. Often ethical dilemmas arise that pose a philosophical challenge. For example, it is reasonable to protect an innocent person from malicious harm, suffering or death. Assume that an ICE agent is conducting an illegal raid on an innocent migrant or that a Jewish family was pursued by the Nazis in World War 2. It is rational and moral to protect them... Given the fire hydrant of misinformation, disinformation and lies with many public figures, honesty is one of most important values to inculcate.

Dr. Cortney Warren, board-certified clinical psychologist, bestselling author, speaker, and award-winning researcher, joins me on this episode. Cortney is an expert on self-deception, addictions, romantic relationships, eating pathology, and the practice of psychology from a cross-cultural perspective. Her TEDx talk, Honest Liars: The Psychology of Self-Deception, has been viewed nearly two million times. In this conversation, Cortney explains why we all lie to ourselves, how self-deception influences our choices and relationships, and why developing the courage to face uncomfortable truths can help us change our lives.

Self-deception can keep you stuck in life without you even realizing it. In this episode of Coaching In Session, Michael Rearden explores self-deception, limiting beliefs, and the stories we tell ourselves that can prevent personal growth, meaningful change, and the life we actually want to create.Michael explains why awareness alone isn't enough and why confronting hard truths is necessary to overcome self-deception and break patterns that keep us comfortable but stagnant.You'll learn how the narratives you repeat can influence your mindset, decisions, relationships, confidence, and future, and why taking action is necessary to turn self-awareness into real personal development. Michael also explores how comfort and denial can gradually become barriers to growth and why becoming honest with yourself is one of the most important mindset shifts you can make.If you've ever felt stuck, repeated the same patterns, made excuses, or wondered why you aren't progressing despite knowing what needs to change, this episode will challenge you to examine the story you're telling yourself.You are not powerless over your story, you can confront the truth, change your thinking, take action, and begin creating a different future.WHAT YOU'LL LEARN What self-deception is and how it keeps you stuck  How the stories you tell yourself affect your life  Why awareness alone isn't enough to create change  How comfort can become a barrier to personal growth  Why confronting hard truths is necessary for growth  How limiting beliefs influence your decisions  How to recognize deceptive narratives  Why taking action matters more than awareness alone  How self-awareness can lead to meaningful change  How to rewrite the story you're telling yourself KEY TAKEAWAYS✅ Self-deception can keep you trapped in patterns that prevent growth.✅ The stories we tell ourselves can become false narratives.✅ Awareness is only the beginning; action creates change.✅ Comfort can slowly turn into stagnation.✅ Confronting hard truths requires honesty and courage.✅ Limiting beliefs can influence how we see our potential.✅ Letting go of old narratives can create freedom.✅ You are responsible for the actions you take in your life.✅ Self-awareness becomes powerful when it leads to action.✅ You have the ability to rewrite your story and create meaningful change.RESOURCES

Blake Boylston preached on 1 Timothy 1:12-17 on the morning of Sunday, September 13, 2026, at Chaffee Crossing Baptist Church in Barling, AR. Chapters (00:00:01) - Introduction: Michael Foster on Succession and Legacy(00:04:10) - From Succession to Scripture: Turning to 1 Timothy 1(00:04:56) - Recap: Paul's Charge to Timothy in Ephesus(00:07:48) - Reading 1 Timothy 1:12-17(00:08:37) - The Big Idea: Relishing Jesus' Mercy(00:09:30) - Paul's Charge Sandwich and Delegated Authority(00:12:07) - False Teachers and Self-Deception in Ephesus(00:14:15) - Shooting Range Story: The Folly of Pretending to Know(00:16:56) - Paul's Ministerial Calling Explained(00:20:05) - Not Self-Made: God's Sovereign Calling(00:24:01) - Paul's Former Life: Blasphemer, Persecutor, Insolent Opponent(00:26:48) - But I Received Mercy: Self-Deception and Spiritual Blindness(00:29:51) - Pride and Unbelief as Root Sins(00:33:28) - Grace Overflowing: The Wall Illustration and Ordo Salutis(00:37:59) - Christ Came to Save Sinners: The Main Thing(00:41:35) - 9/11 Reflection: Crying Out to Be Saved(00:44:26) - Foremost of Sinners: Paul as the Prototype of Mercy(00:49:17) - Application 1: Mercy Empowers Us for Service(00:53:21) - Application 2: Wanting Others to Experience Mercy(00:55:52) - Doxology: The King of the Ages(01:00:41) - Closing Thoughts and Prayer

Murray McLellan's sermon from 1 Samuel 15:10-23 at the Scotiabank Theatre The post Sin as Self-Deception appeared first on | Grace Fellowship | Saskatoon Church | Warman Church.

Revelation 3:14-2214 “And to the angel of the church in Laodicea write: ‘The words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of God's creation. 15 “‘I know your works: you are neither cold nor hot. Would that you were either cold or hot! 16 So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth. 17 For you say, “I am rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing,” not realizing that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked. 18 I counsel you to buy from me gold refined by fire, so that you may be rich, and white garments so that you may clothe yourself and the shame of your nakedness may not be seen, and salve to anoint your eyes, so that you may see. 19 Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline, so be zealous and repent. 20 Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me. 21 The one who conquers, I will grant him to sit with me on my throne, as I also conquered and sat down with my Father on his throne. 22 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.'” Introduction – A Healthy Church or a Sick Church? I. Christ Is the True and Faithful Witness (v. 14)II. Christ Diagnoses Their Lukewarmness (vv. 15–16)III. Christ Exposes the Root Disease: Self-Sufficiency (v. 17)IV. Christ Exposes Their Self-Deception (v. 17)V. Christ Alone Has the Cure (v. 18)VI. Christ Calls His Church to Repent (v. 19)VII. Christ Stands at the Door (v. 20)VIII. Christ Promises Victory to Those Who Overcome (vv. 21–22)Conclusion: “I Need Nothing” vs. “I Need You”

"Take heed that no one deceives you"  Mathew 24:4

In this episode, Heidi Brooks talks with Jim Ferrell, who invites us to notice the invisible default of individualism that fragments our organizations and our lives. He describes a process for groups to map, measure, and manage the relational space—the "space between us"—for collective impact. Jim challenges us to see relationships fundamentally as the primary unit of analysis in work and life rather than the individual, arguing that everything we perceive as a standalone object actually emerges out of relation. From Yale Law to Georges Seurat's pointillist masterpiece and Martin Buber's classic philosophical distinctions, Jim shares his own journey that took him from his first book, Leadership and Self Deception, to his new book, You and We: A Relational Rethinking of Work, Life, and Leadership, and the experiences that shape is practice. Together, Heidi and Jim share why learning through experience is critical to exploring a key aspect of both of their work—exploring the relational impact on the system. Jim explains how shifting the dial ninety degrees to relational mapping makes all the blank space on an org chart visible and meaningful, allowing teams to diagnose their connections from division (-2) to compounding (+2). Heidi bridges this with her own classroom practices at Yale and with executives, where groups do the hard work of making everyday moments and critical junctures more discussable in pursuit of hope for a better world. This episode is an invitation to experiment with noticing the quality of the shared environment between you and others, creating room to thrive by getting out of your own head and into the "between". Check out Jim Ferrell's new book on his company website: Withiii.com 0:00 - Leadership Humility and the Freedom of Anonymity: Heidi invites us to listen to this episode with intention and a both/and mindset. This segment traces Jim's lineage from Yale Law School to writing the global bestseller "Leadership and Self-Deception". Jim recounts profound moments of relationality that created the conditions for his first success. He also shares how writing anonymously under the company byline (the Arbinger Institute) freed him from the trap of personal branding to explore ideas without his identity being wrapped up in them. 11:33 - Individualism as a Trap: Heidi and Jim examine how western culture defaults to a hyper-individualistic paradigm that fragments reality and mistakes those isolated parts for reality itself. Jim argues that relation, rather than the individual, is the fundamental unit of analysis, using the metaphor of an org chart where the critical space is between the boxes. The conversation deepens with a discussion of art as a teaching tool to experience each other's perspectives. 22:54 - The influence of Martin Buber: Jim reflects on how former Dean Guido Calabresi's famous orientation speech at Yale Law School invited him to get off the treadmill and pursue what truly fascinated him. This open environment eventually led Jim to read Martin Buber's philosophical classic "I and Thou" on a transatlantic flight, a revelatory experience that shattered and rebuilt his worldview around true relationality. Jim introduces a key concept from his latest book, the five levels of relation, noting that the highest level—compounding—can only happen when we step out of our heads and enter the shared space. 36:50 - Intermission Reflection: During a brief reflective intermission, listeners are invited to examine their own agency and responsibility within the shared relational field. The conversation then transitions back into the interview to explore how power is expressed through curiosity and mutual dialogue rather than intellectual debate. Heidi and Jim discuss the difference between living in monologue and stepping into a generative, courageous space of true connection. 49:10 - A You and We Case Study: Concluding the episode, Jim and Heidi tie the ideas in this episode together with Jim's case study: a real-world client scenario where teams mapped their relational connections to make relations visible. The work is hard, but Heidi and Jim share that when leaders experience the impact of paying attention to the relational space, it is impossible to unsee. References: Ferrell, Jim. You and We: A Relational Rethinking of Work, Life, and Leadership (2026) Arbinger Institute. Leadership and Self-Deception (2000) Buber, Martin. I and Thou (1923) Szymborska, Wisława. Utopia (Poem) Credits: Learning Through Experience is hosted by Dr. Heidi Brooks and produced by Emberleaf Studio. Music was composed by Bradley Kemp.

Self-deception often begins with believing something simply because we want it to be true. Over time, those comforting stories can damage our performance, relationships, and ability to face reality.In this episode, Dave Durand examines three types of self-deception: deflationary, paradoxical, and persistent. He explains how each one takes hold, why we resist evidence that challenges us, and how humility and a genuine love of truth can set us free.

How do you identify your writing weaknesses? And, even more importantly, how can you tell if something really is a weakness? In this episode, I share five ways writers can recognize recurring craft problems, strengthen weak areas, and distinguish poor execution from intentional writing style. Every story presents its own challenges. Struggling with one beginning doesn't necessarily mean you're bad at beginnings. But when the same problem keeps cropping up across multiple stories, that's information worth paying attention to. We'll look at how to identify writing weaknesses by listening to your story sense, noticing what you consistently avoid, comparing patterns across multiple stories, and learning from beta readers, critique partners, editors, and reader reviews. We'll also talk about the important difference between the inner critic's generalized judgments and the specific diagnostic nudges that can actually help you improve your writing. But identifying a recurring pattern raises another question: Is it actually a weakness? Writing craft is largely the study of patterns that work. But not every departure from those patterns is a mistake. Writers such as Kurt Vonnegut, William Faulkner, and Cormac McCarthy made unconventional choices that became part of their distinctive styles. The real question is whether your choices effectively communicate what you intend. In this episode, we'll talk about: • What writing weaknesses actually are • 5 ways to identify recurring weaknesses in your writing • How to distinguish your inner critic from your story sense • Why patterns across multiple stories matter • How to use feedback without surrendering your own judgment • When breaking writing "rules" becomes a stylistic strength • How to turn weak areas into stronger writing skills Read the transcript: https://www.helpingwritersbecomeauthors.com/identify-writing-weaknesses/ LINKS & RESOURCES Want More? WRITING MASTERCLASS: Flat Character Arcs: From Transformation to Integration https://kmweilandstore.com/b/flat-character-arc-class  If character arcs are one of the areas you'd like to understand more deeply, my new masterclass Flat Character Arcs: From Transformation to Integration explores not just how Flat Character Arcs work, but why. The more deeply we understand the patterns underneath story (i.e., the reasons certain choices create meaning and resonance), the less we have to rely on memorized "rules." Instead, we can begin internalizing the principles themselves and using them instinctively in our own stories. You can also save 15% by purchasing the class as part of my Writing Steadfast and Tragic Character Arcs bundle, together with Negative Character Arcs: Hidden Patterns of Self-Deception.

In this NEW episode, Dr. Finlayson-Fife joins Dr. Corey Allan of Sexy Marriage Radio to talk about her book, That We Might Have Joy. They discuss why changing a marriage is about behavior, not ideas, the higher and lower desire dynamic, and the pull to hide behind roles instead of revealing who we actually are in our relationships.

08/23/26. Five Minutes in the Word scriptures for today: Galatians 6:3. Self Deception of Pride. Sources: copilot; biblehub.com; Faithlife Study Bible and Logos.com. Blog for this lesson: none Podcast on YouTube: https://m.youtube.com/@hhwscott Podcast website: https://www.hwscott.net/podcast.php MinutesWord Merch: https://minutesword.printify.me/ LISTEN, LIKE, FOLLOW, SHARE! #MinutesWord @MinutesWord #dailybiblestudy #dailydevotional #Christian_podcaster #shopmerch #quiettime #FaithRoutine ChristianPodcasts #PrintifyShop Barnes Notes on the Bible https://amzn.to/445yM1g  #CommissionsEarned

What happens when a celebrated novelist loses his relevance, his marriage begins to crumble, and the person who seems to believe in him most is the young au pair caring for his children?That's the provocative setup for Teddy Wayne's new novel, The Au Pair.On Speaking of Writers, Teddy joins Steve Richards for a conversation about literary ambition, desire, masculinity, marriage, class, self-deception, the changing cultural power of the literary novel, and why some of the most dangerous fictions are the ones we tell ourselves.We also talk about the transition from novel to screenplay, The Winner, Hollywood, and the fascinating question of whether a writer can ever truly escape the stories he creates.

If you're a good person and life is going well, what exactly do you need saving from? In “I'm Fine!”, the first message in our series This Is Grace: Paul's Letter to the Romans, Pastor Mark Reynolds explores why our need for God goes deeper than obvious moral failures—and how grace invites us beyond self-deception into truth, healing, and freedom.

Matt and Michael mark eight years of the podcast with a question someone recently asked Michael. Does the devil exist? What follows is a winding conversation through evil, morality, materialism, and the logic of the cross. They explore why Western culture has lost touch with the concept of evil, how political contradictions reveal our moral confusion, and why the devil's greatest trick might be making himself disappear from the conversation entirely. Drawing on prison interviews, biblical texts, Solzhenitsyn, Scott Peck, and even Thanos, they land on a surprising conclusion. The devil is real, but he's not who we think he is. He's the spirit of self-justification, the voice that says "I am enough." And we all hear it. Cheers y'all

Self-deception is the lie you sell yourself before you ever sell it to anyone else. This is why you can be sincere and manipulative at the very same time, and how to finally catch it.In this video, relationship and trauma recovery specialist Kenny Weiss breaks down self-deception, the quiet form of lying to yourself that keeps high-functioning, emotionally exhausted adults stuck for decades. Through the real story of a man who kept a job "for his wife," you'll see how emotional avoidance and denial actually work, why your most convincing audience is always you, and why no amount of communication advice can fix a lie you have already believed.You'll learn how self-deception lives in the Denial stage of the Worst Day Cycle™ (Trauma, Fear, Shame, Denial), why covert manipulation can feel completely sincere, and how the Authentic Self Cycle™ (Truth, Responsibility, Healing, Forgiveness) and the Emotional Authenticity Method™ give you a step-by-step way to catch the lie one second before you sell it.Self-deception runs in a specific order. You sell the lie to yourself first, which is why a person can be manipulative and sincere at the same time. The manipulation of another person is always downstream of the lie you tell yourself.Denial is the most dangerous stage of the Worst Day Cycle because it is invisible to the person living inside it. The speed of your defense is the measure of your denial, and the patterns you most want to dismiss are usually the ones that are most true.Covert manipulation is often more damaging than overt control because it arrives wrapped in kindness, leaving the other person with nothing to point to. The person delivering it feels sincere because they convinced themselves of the generous version first.Kenny Weiss is a relationship, communication, and childhood trauma recovery specialist and the creator of the Worst Day Cycle™, the Authentic Self Cycle™, and the Emotional Authenticity Method™. He helps high-functioning adults who have already tried therapy, coaching, and self-help and still feel stuck, by rewiring the childhood emotional blueprint instead of managing symptoms.TOPICS COVERED: self-deception, lying to yourself, emotional avoidance, denial, covert manipulation, self-deception in relationships, why you lie to yourself, avoidant attachment, codependency recovery, childhood trauma and relationships, emotional regulation, survival persona, Worst Day Cycle, Authentic Self Cycle, Emotional Authenticity Method, Kenny WeissTIMESTAMPS:0:00 — The Generous Lie He Told Himself1:30 — Self-Deception Runs in a Specific Order3:30 — The Denial Stage of the Worst Day Cycle6:00 — When Manipulation Disguises Itself as Generosity9:00 — The Floor Underneath the Floor12:00 — Where the Lie Was Built in Childhood14:30 — The Two Selves at War Inside You17:00 — Truth and Responsibility, the Way Out19:00 — One Experiment to Catch the Lie21:00 — You Are Not Broken, You Were Programmed

Episode Summary In this Bible teaching from 1 Corinthians 10:12–13, Bobby Bosler places two familiar verses back into Paul's warning against idolatry and compromise. The Corinthians could excuse disobedience either by assuming they were already standing or by believing their circumstances left them no way to obey. This episode calls young people to reject both pride and despair, flee compromise, surrender to Jesus Christ, and depend on the faithful God who always provides grace to obey. Topics Discussed The Corinthian context of idol participation and personal rights Israel's wilderness failures as a warning to believers Spiritual pride and the danger of merely thinking you stand Hidden compromise beneath an outwardly godly appearance Why temptation is common rather than uniquely hopeless God's faithfulness, control, and promised way of escape Surrender to Christ and dependence on the Holy Spirit Key Takeaways Outward spirituality does not excuse hidden areas of disobedience. Pride says no correction is needed, while despair says obedience is impossible. No temptation makes you uniquely abandoned or beyond God's care. God remains faithful and provides the strength either to escape temptation or endure it obediently. Victory comes through surrender to Christ and dependence on the Holy Spirit, not self-confidence. Stop justifying compromise and obey the truth God has already made clear. If you've been encouraged by this podcast, please take the time to give us a five-star rating and write a brief review. That would help tremendously in getting the word out and raising the visibility of the Thee Generation for others. For more faith inspiring resources and information about joining Thee Generation, please visit theegeneration.org.

(0:00) Intro: What Is a Qareen in Islam?(0:06) How Waswasa Influences the Human Mind(0:36) The Boycott Example: When Desire Is Disguised as a Need(1:10) Changing Your Principles to Match Your Desires(1:40) Understanding the Qareen as an External Influence(2:23) Neuroscience, Negativity Bias, and Intrusive Thoughts(3:05) Why Understanding This Is So Important(3:14) When an Impulse Feels Like a Necessity(4:03) How the Brain Justifies Bad Decisions(4:28) Using Religion to Justify Personal Desires(5:11) Overeating, Peer Pressure, and the Nafs(5:30) Mortgages, Haram, and Self-Deception(6:11) When Arrogance Feels Like Confidence(6:41) Pushing Others Aside in the Name of Confidence(7:01) The Excuses We Make Before Acting Arrogantly Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What if enlightenment isn't a mystical state—but the gradual destruction of the stories you tell yourself? Gary Cocciolillo speaks with Giotto De Filippi, creator of Practical Enlightenment, about radical honesty, identity, desire, ego, and the beliefs that quietly create suffering. Giotto explains why the word “should” can trap us inside an imaginary version of reality—and why effort often becomes another form of pretending.Gary pushes the conversation further into consciousness, dreams, paranormal experiences, meditation, time, existence, and whether anything we experience can truly be called real. They also explore the difference between chasing outcomes and simply tending to life like a gardener. Can enlightenment become practical? The first step may be brutally simple: stop lying to yourself. Learn more about Giotto's work at PracticalEnlightenment.com.AppleSpotify

Un tema que aparece una y otra vez en las escrituras, porque siempre hay muchas personas que sen engañan a ellos mismos sobre esto.

Welcome back to another episode of the unSeminary podcast. Today we're joined by Alvin Sanders, President and CEO of World Impact, an organization committed to equipping leaders to build healthy churches in every community experiencing poverty. After decades in pastoral ministry and leadership development, Alvin has become passionate about helping ministry leaders avoid one of the greatest threats to long-term effectiveness: burnout. Are you serving faithfully but feeling increasingly exhausted? Wondering how to sustain ministry for the long haul without sacrificing your health, family, or relationship with God? In this conversation, Alvin shares the personal lessons that transformed his own leadership after experiencing burnout. Tune in as he offers a practical framework for building a ministry that lasts. When work becomes worship. // Ministry itself can quietly become an idol. He didn’t intentionally choose work over God, but somewhere along the way, serving Christ replaced walking with Christ. Spiritual disciplines gave way to ministry responsibilities. Prayer, Sabbath, retreat, fasting, and personal communion with God slowly disappeared beneath endless demands. The result was a ministry that looked productive on the outside while becoming spiritually unsustainable on the inside. Return to the basics of spiritual formation. // Rather than searching for complicated solutions, Alvin returned to the foundational practices Christians have embraced for centuries. Prayer, engaging Scripture, fasting, Sabbath, retreat, generosity, commitment to the Church body, and intentional spiritual rhythms are not optional extras for ministry leaders. They are essential practices that sustain healthy leadership. Just as championship football teams return to blocking and tackling when they lose, pastors must continually return to the spiritual basics that anchor their lives. Pay attention to the warning signs. // In hindsight, Alvin sees numerous warning lights he ignored. His daughter once looked at him during dinner and innocently asked, “Daddy, why are you here?” because she had grown so accustomed to his absence. He gained significant weight, neglected his physical health, ignored emotional exhaustion, and consistently placed ministry ahead of family. None of these issues appeared overnight, but together they revealed a leader drifting toward collapse. Burnout is often less about one dramatic event and more about a thousand small compromises over time. Healthy leaders steward their whole person. // Pastors often underestimate the importance of caring for their physical and emotional health. Exercise is no longer something he squeezes into his schedule. Now, it is part of his workday because caring for his body directly affects his ministry. Likewise, emotional health is not separate from spiritual maturity. Leaders who fail to process stress, trauma, criticism, and disappointment eventually carry those burdens into every aspect of ministry. Healthy ministry begins with healthy people. A three-legged stool for sustainable ministry. // At World Impact, staff health is built around three interconnected priorities: spiritual formation, engaging stressors, and leadership development. Spiritual formation keeps leaders rooted in Christ. Engaging stressors helps them process trauma, maintain healthy boundaries, and avoid adopting a “savior mentality.” Skill development—including emotional intelligence, leadership growth, and contextual ministry effectiveness—equips leaders to serve wisely. Remove any one of these three “legs,” and long-term ministry becomes unstable. If you’re approaching burnout, don’t ignore it. // Alvin closes with practical encouragement for leaders who recognize themselves in his story. First, honestly acknowledge where you are instead of pretending everything is fine. Second, intentionally rest by embracing Sabbath, vacations, and healthy rhythms. Finally, if the burden runs deeper, don’t hesitate to seek help from a trusted counselor. Burnout isn’t a badge of honor—it is a warning that something needs attention. To learn more about Alvin or World Impact, visit worldimpact.org or connect with Alvin on LinkedIn. You can find his expanded book Redemptive Poverty Work on Amazon and his recent webinar on redemptive poverty work here. Thank You for Tuning In! There are a lot of podcasts you could be tuning into today, but you chose unSeminary, and I'm grateful for that. If you enjoyed today's show, please share it by using the social media buttons you see at the left hand side of this page. Also, kindly consider taking the 60-seconds it takes to leave an honest review and rating for the podcast on iTunes, they're extremely helpful when it comes to the ranking of the show and you can bet that I read every single one of them personally! Thank You to This Episode’s Sponsor: TouchPoint As your church reaches more people, one of the biggest challenges is making sure no one slips through the cracks along the way.TouchPoint Church Management Software is an all-in-one ecosystem built for churches that want to elevate discipleship by providing clear data, strong engagement tools, and dependable workflows that scale as you grow. TouchPoint is trusted by some of the fastest-growing and largest churches in the country because it helps teams stay aligned, understand who they're reaching, and make confident ministry decisions week after week. If you've been wondering whether your current system can carry your next season of growth, it may be time to explore what TouchPoint can do for you. You can evaluate TouchPoint during a free, no-pressure one-hour demo at TouchPointSoftware.com/demo. Episode Transcript Rich Birch — Hey, friends, welcome to the unSeminary podcast. So glad that you have decided to tune in. Listen, I know you’ve got a million things going on this week. In fact, if you’ve got a lot of things going on, you really need to set aside the next half an hour or so to lean in on this conversation because I really think this is going to be helpful for you. I know it’s the kind of thing that you and your team is wrestling with plus we have a return guest on the podcast which what that indicates to you is this a person I want you to hear from. Honored to have Reverend Dr. Alvin Sanders with us he is the president and CEO of World Impact which empowers leaders to build healthy churches in communities of diversity and poverty. When urban leaders so when urban leaders are empowered that to own and lead their own ministry, individuals, families, and neighborhoods ultimately flourish. Super excited to have him with us. Enjoyed his episode from maybe a couple years ago and honored to have you back today. Alvin, welcome to the show. So glad you’re here.Alvin Sanders — Glad to be here, Rich, and thanks for having me back.Rich Birch — Oh, it’s great to connect a little bit. Why don’t you bring us up to speed? Tell us a little bit about yourself, about World Impact. Give us some context if people don’t remember.Alvin Sanders — Yeah, so President, CEO World Impact – our vision is a healthy church in every community experiencing poverty. We’re working to solve the problem that 95% of the world’s pastors have no formal ministry training whatsoever.Alvin Sanders — So we we try to bring that training to them and make it affordable and accessible. I don’t know if you’re paying attention to what’s going on in the Christian educational world right now in terms of universities, but it’s ugly out there. Rich Birch — Yes.Alvin Sanders — So we are really trying to make sure that people are equipped and they can be able to do ministry in the in the context that they’re called to do it.Rich Birch — Yeah, that’s cool. Yeah. And I really, friends, I would commend you to to, if you don’t know World Impact, you should get to know them. You know, all them and the team do such good good work here. Well, we I want us I want you to take us back to 2007, so almost 20 years ago, which is insane to say that that’s 20 years ago, because it doesn’t feel like 20 years ago. It feels like just yesterday.Rich Birch — What was going on in your ministry and life? Yeah, kind of bring us into that part of the story. Let’s start there.Alvin Sanders — Yeah. So in 2007, I was wrapping up a 10-year project of planting and starting a church in inner city Cincinnati. And the denomination that I was a part of, the Evangelical Free Church of America, had offered me a position to leave the pastorate and to come work for them and run what’s called our “all people initiative”.Alvin Sanders — So me and my wife prayed, thought about it and said, yep, you know what? It’s time to make a good transition. And we made that transition. Yet for the first six months after that transition, we were, it was really a weird dynamic in the fact that when we would run into other people, people would say, hey, you guys look so much better than…, I mean, they didn’t say it this directly… Rich Birch — Right. Alvin Sanders — …but essentially what they were saying is you look so much better now that you’re out of the pastorate.Rich Birch — Right. What happened? You look great.Alvin Sanders — Yeah. What happened? You look good. Did you, did you lose weight? Did you, you know, glasses, whatever, you know?Rich Birch — Oh, no. You’re like, thank you, I think.Alvin Sanders — Yeah, and Rich, this wasn’t like a small amount of people. It was like every time we ran into people. So after about six months of this, we were like, okay, so what’s going on? And then we when we looked back in hindsight, felt like the last year or so of being in the pastorate, we had burned out.Alvin Sanders — And up until that point, I really didn’t know what burnout was. You kind of sort of hear about it, but you don’t really think about it. Why? Because you’re too busy, right? So you don’t sit back and think about ordering the chaos of ministry or anything of that nature.Alvin Sanders — And so we vowed that going forward, never again would this happen to us. So essentially I divide my ministry life in the two halves. Rich Birch — Right.Alvin Sanders — The first half is pre-2007. It’s kind of like how people look at the pandemic, right? Rich Birch — Yes.Alvin Sanders — So it’s like pre-2007 and then post 2007. And so we began to implement a series of things that helped us to be able to do ministry in a sustainable way and not experience burnout because you do not have to burn out doing ministry. That’s what I’ve learned since 2007.Rich Birch — Yeah, when you so when you think about that time, yeah, I love that. Like, hey, friends, thanks for telling me I look great. Or you look terrible a year ago. Okay, thanks.Rich Birch — When you look back on at that moment, you’re like, hey, I think we were burnt out. What were some of those those patterns, habits, evidence, signs that you look at and were like, oh, that is what was going on there? You know, what what was it that, you know, got you, yeah, that you kind of saw it yourself in that moment as you looked back?Alvin Sanders — In hindsight, what I looked at is we were basically on autopilot. When I first started that ministry project, I felt a call. I felt like I was walking with the Lord. I felt the Holy Spirit’s presence. You know it was like hindsight, it’s like the book of Acts stuff. You know it was kind of like God was right there. I was energized. I was excited. I truly wanted to make a difference in the lives and the hearts of the people who were there. I wanted to make a difference in the community. Alvin Sanders — But that last year or so, I look back at it. It was just 60, 70 hours a week, flip the switch, doing what I need to do. Rich Birch — Right.Alvin Sanders — Very jaded, cynical all the time, low energy, you know, vacation didn’t matter because I had to go back to work. You know, these are, you know, it was sort of like a call of duty, so to speak. It was this is my duty to do it.Rich Birch — Right, right, right. Interesting.Alvin Sanders — Right.Rich Birch — So now you made a few decisions to, you know, in the words you use was, we do a series of things. We changed the way that we work. What were those things that you changed? What were some of those things when you look back, now that you’re on the other side of that, what were some of those decisions you made to say, hey, we’re going to live in a different way? And what was what was that? You know, what is that? What were some of those?Alvin Sanders — Well, one of the big things that I realized, and it’s going to sound elementary when I say it, but I think as pastors and people in ministry, we forget about the basic things.Alvin Sanders — You know, I’m a big football fan, Ohio State Buckeyes to be exact, right? And so I remember, I can’t remember which one of those coaches, but I remember one of those coaches, I was listening to an interview one day and they said, hey, you know, when we lose, our first practice back is we go back to the basics.Alvin Sanders — Just basic stuff. That’s all we do. Blocking, tackling, you know, simple things. And one of the things we did was we went back to the basics of what it means to be a Christian. You know, over the years, they call that spiritual formation.Rich Birch — Yep.Alvin Sanders — So the basic things of are you praying? Are you fasting? Rich Birch — That’s good. Alvin Sanders — You know, you know, just if you type in spiritual formation in Google, you’re going to get a gazillion things that pop up. Right?Rich Birch — Right. Yes.Alvin Sanders — Well, we should be doing many of those things. Rich Birch — Right.Alvin Sanders — You know, retreating. You should not be accessible all the time. Sabbath. You know, it’s Hebrews 11 tells us that, you know, we’re among a great cloud of witnesses and that great cloud of witnesses are our people who, any and everybody who has ever been Christian ever in in in the entire history of the world. And Rich, hate to break it to you, but it’s not rocket science of how to be a good Christian.Rich Birch — Right.Alvin Sanders — We just ignore it. Rich Birch — Yes. Right. True. Alvin Sanders — Because there have been people before us who have worked out, hey, these are the rhythms. These are the things that you do…Rich Birch — Yes.Alvin Sanders — …you know, to be Christian. Rich Birch — Yes. Alvin Sanders — And what had suddenly happened is I made work my worship.Rich Birch — Oh, that’s painful.Alvin Sanders — The job became what I worship. Now, I didn’t intentionally set out to do that, but I had so much passion and I had so much zeal to want to make a difference in the world that suddenly the rhythms of what made you a Christian took a backseat to the work that I was doing.Rich Birch — Yeah, that’s good. I want to come back to that. I want to put a bookmark in you made work your worship. I think that’s a powerful idea. I want to come back to that. But just before we leave this idea, you know, I love that the football analogy. I had and a nephew that was a receiver, college ball receiver. And I remember talking to him, you know, once as well. Rich Birch — And I was like, like, tell me, what you know, kind of what is your practice look like? And how are you, how do you keep on top of that? And he said, he said, well, you know, I’ve got these three formations, these three patterns that we run. And he’s like, I just run those formations all day long. Alvin Sanders — Yes. Rich Birch — It’s like, you just, you know, it’s like the same, you know, four steps this way, three steps that way, you know, turn, you know, it’s like, I’m just do that for four years. We’re just going to run that, which stuck with me similarly that, you know, I think oftentimes, you we can complicate this and we can say, hey, that you know we can complicate staying connected to praying, fasting, Sabbath, reading scripture, these kinds of things. We can drop them. Rich Birch — Were there any other warning signs looking back now that you missed? Again, in hindsight, you look back and say, oh, there were some some things on the dashboard that were blinking and I didn’t notice that you were leading up to this breaking point.Rich Birch — Were there other things in your life besides these dropping off that you know, that you, again, in in hindsight noticed and maybe are looking for now?Alvin Sanders — There was zero what they call work/life balance. Rich Birch — Right.Alvin Sanders — Zero. Rich Birch — Right. Alvin Sanders — At that time, I was working on my PhD. I was pastoring a church full time. Rich Birch — Right. Alvin Sanders — And I was running the church’s Christian Community Development Corporation that was attached to it.Rich Birch — Yep.Alvin Sanders — And oh, by the way, I was also teaching classes at the local Bible college.Rich Birch — Right. Yes. Alvin Sanders — And had a wife and I had two kids.Rich Birch —Yep.Alvin Sanders — And so I remember during that period, a huge red flag that in hindsight, I’m ashamed to say, I did not pay attention to. One Friday night I was sitting down and I was eating dinner with my family and my youngest, Gabby, she looked up in her little toddler face and she said, Daddy, why are you here?Alvin Sanders — And I said, what do you mean? I’m I’m sitting here. I’m I’m eating dinner. You know I’m here. You know she’s and she and she was so confused that I was home.Rich Birch — Oh my goodness.Alvin Sanders — So that’s so that was a neglect of family. Right. Rich Birch — Yes. Alvin Sanders — That was a huge red flag. Rich Birch — Yep.Alvin Sanders — Gained a ton of weight because I was not taking care of myself physically. I think that’s something we underestimate in ministry. Rich Birch — I agree. Alvin Sanders — You know, to the point now that I even I count when I go work out, that’s part of my work day.Rich Birch — Right. Interesting.Alvin Sanders — Because I said I can’t be a successful minister if if I am not in shape. So I see that as a you know, I don’t have this sort of dichotomy of the physical and the spiritual, all that. No, I it’s all one. You know, it’s going to hurt me spiritually if I’m out of shape, if I’m not eating right, I’m not properly fit and all those types of things.Alvin Sanders — So I wasn’t taking care of myself physically. I clearly was not taking care of myself emotionally.Rich Birch — Yeah.Alvin Sanders — We are emotional beings. We are emotional. I have come to believe, and this is maybe a controversial point, but I don’t know. It’s my belief. I have come to believe, Rich, that we are emotional beings that rationalize our lives with facts.Rich Birch — Yeah, that’s true.Alvin Sanders — But there’s a lot of research out there that says we can think we’re rational all we want, but what we really do, we have never made a rational decision that does not agree with our emotions.Rich Birch — Right.Alvin Sanders — So we must take care of ourselves.Rich Birch — Yeah.Alvin Sanders — I was not taking care of myself emotionally.Rich Birch — Right.Alvin Sanders — Therefore, out of shape physically, neglecting family, which by the way, God says that’s the first ministry, you’re supposed to lead well. So if you’re not leading your family well, it really doesn’t matter what else you’re doing, you know. And just an emotional, just not emotionally regulated is the easiest way that I can say it. Didn’t know I wasn’t emotionally regulated, but I wasn’t.Rich Birch — Yeah. Yeah, that’s good. You know, the Carey Nieuwhof, friend of mine, ah you know, he says around this whole that topic, he says, you know, if you’re an alcoholic and you stumble into work one day drunk, you know, you get fired, or you or there’s a consequence, right? If you are a gambler and you’re addicted to gambling and you know you lose your house, that’s gonna show up and you know you’re gonna lose your house, there’s consequence to that. And you know one of those might be you lose your job. Rich Birch — But this area of like overworking, if we overwork even in good things, you’re rewarded for it. Like, you’re like, way to go. You’re a good soldier.Alvin Sanders — Yeah. Yeah.Rich Birch — You know, there’s, it’s almost like a badge of honor in ministry to be exhausted for Jesus. When you said, man, I made work my worship, that stung because I was like, ooh, I think I’ve done that before.Alvin Sanders — Yeah. I mean…Rich Birch — So take us inside, you know, ah other leaders’, you know, heads. How does that mindset quietly quietly set us up for this crash? How do we, you know, kind of unpack that even more for us?Alvin Sanders — Yeah, I mean, I say all the time I’m a recovering work workaholic.Rich Birch — Right.Alvin Sanders — You know, that’s the way I put it.Alvin Sanders — And then a big thing that really set me up for this that I didn’t realize is that I come from a family of workaholics. You know, my father, who is my hero, other people have heroes outside of the household. My father is my hero. He’s 87 now, that’s my guy.Rich Birch — It’s so good. Yeah.Alvin Sanders — He, I grew up in a household, my father grew up in Jim Crow, Alabama. And he overcame so much. Rich Birch — Right. Incredible.Alvin Sanders — He went to when he joined the military, military was was sort of like a saving grace. He was in the military for 30 years. Rich Birch — Wow. Alvin Sanders — And he went to night school and he got two degrees in night school while working during the day.Rich Birch — Wow.Alvin Sanders — You know, my mom was an old farm was a was a farm girl, you know. Protestant work ethic. You know, you want she would say, son, you want to kill time, work it to death. You know, idle hands is the devil’s workshop. You know I grew up on all these idioms.Rich Birch — Yes, yes, yes.Alvin Sanders — And, and so that was in my DNA. And just by the fact that we live in United States of America, where busyness is a badge of honor, I believe you said, and we all are under the Protestant work ethic, you know, you know, who, what, what, what bum works only 40 hours.Alvin Sanders — I mean, you want to get ahead.Rich Birch — It’s true.Alvin Sanders — The minimum is 50.Rich Birch — Yeah. Right. Right.Alvin Sanders — You know, when I was pastoring, how many people in my congregation, you know, in terms of the white collar crew, you know, I had ah I had all spectrums in the church that I was in, I pastored. It was no big deal for them to just be gone all the time.Rich Birch — Right.Alvin Sanders — If you get offered a promotion, who would tell you don’t accept it for the sake of your family?Rich Birch — Right.Alvin Sanders — Of course I’m going to accept it. It’s more money… Rich Birch — Right. Alvin Sanders — …because more money puts us in a better position…or doesn’t it? Rich Birch — Right. Alvin Sanders — It might, or might not. So counterintuitive thinking is something that we have to do. I mean, I’m in a place now where um God has blessed me that I have a lot of opportunities and I limit my opportunities. Because I say if if I’m gone all the time again, guess what I’m on the road to? Rich Birch — Right.Alvin Sanders — You know, and we may have a little bit more money, but then, you know, I’m in the I’m in the empty nesthood stage of season of life and I’d be missing valuable time with my wife. So it’s a reordering of the priorities, you know? Rich Birch — Yeah, that’s good.Alvin Sanders — Yeah.Rich Birch — Yeah, it’s so good. And this is one of those areas where I see hope in you know next generation. You know i see hope in Gen Z leaders. There there is, like I think, a healthy pushback on on some of this area, which is I think is positive. I know sometimes, you know, I’m Gen X, classic Gen X, born 1974, the lowest birth rate year of the 20th century.Alvin Sanders — Yes. Yeah.Rich Birch — And, you know, and I think sometimes, you know, my peers and particularly the folks older than me, that generation, they they really did, they handed down this idea. And you know, there’s good change happening, I think, on this front. Rich Birch — But so how do you think about this now? So, you know, as you’re thinking about the future, or maybe you’re coaching your team, people you’re interacting with, you know, how do you kind of articulate this, maybe with a framework or thinking around this, so that we don’t just pass on more burnt out organizations?Rich Birch — How how are you helping, you know, lead an organization? Because I think there’s the reason why asked that question is I think it can be easy for us folks that are in charge. I run my own organization. I like often joke, like my boss is a bit of a taskmaster because it’s me, you know. But you know, when, but when we’re the people in charge, we get to set the pace. We get to lead in a way. How are you leading different now? How are you helping your people understand this different now? What are, how are you, what’s that look like for you?Alvin Sanders — Yes. So we, we have baked in in the cake at World Impact. Um, three things, three areas. We talked, we touched on it before spiritual formation, you know, that’s a big deal here at World Impact.Alvin Sanders — You know, we, we really want to make sure that people understand your work is not your worship. You know, part of our sustainable strategy is, you know, we care more about who you are than what you do. And we mean that. Alvin Sanders — And it’s funny because when you first say that to some people, they go, oh well, you don’t want me to work. It’s like, no we didn’t say that. What we said is we understand you are a human being. And we care about you and we’re going to invest deeply in you as you invest deeply into our our our vision. And so um making sure that work’s not to worship, make sure that people understand our identity is in Christ. Alvin Sanders — Understanding also the the spiritual disciplines. We incorporate eight particular spiritual disciplines. I probably should know them the my head, but I don’t. But let me see, I mean, I can roll off the top of my head.Alvin Sanders — Let’s see, you got church membership. You know, we, we, and It’s not cool, you know, to be a church member and people love to kill the church and criticize the church and this that the other. But I leave that to the accuser of the brethren to use the KJV version and use that to the devil.Rich Birch — Nice.Alvin Sanders — Jesus came to establish the church. Period. End of discussion. So you ought to be part of one. So, you know, we encourage our folks to be part of churches, to fast, to pray.Alvin Sanders — We have three times a year we’ve shut everything down and we have prayer days. You know, we we encourage people to be generous with their money. We encourage people to empower others. You know, so there’s we we we encourage we have a personal retreat days that we offer people for for, it’s a work day, but it’s a different kind of structured work day. We say we’ll give you one day a month where you go off and you examine yourself. You do a spiritual examen off basically, you know, off the old St. Ignatius type of spiritual examen. And then you also look at your professional development. You go off and we do that and we’ll pay you for that.Rich Birch — Right. That’s great.Alvin Sanders — You know, so there are a number of things that we do in terms of developing a rhythm. We call, you know, having a rhythm. Rich Birch — That’s good.Alvin Sanders — You know, so a lot of spiritual formation. And then the other s is we look at the, you could think of these S’s as three S’s or a three-legged stool that serves the foundation and they’re all intertwined.Alvin Sanders — So besides spiritual formation, we also encourage people to engage stressors, right? We there’s there’s a way that you work in the world. There’s I got this from my friends at Praxis that there’s three ways that you can engage the world. You can engage the world um exploitatively, ethically or redemptively. Rich Birch — That’s good.Alvin Sanders — So we want people to we want our staff to engage the world, and engage their jobs in a redemptive manner, which is, you know, sacrificing our lives in the pattern of Jesus Christ. Right. That’s we follow the pattern of Jesus Christ, that that we are doing this in order to make the world a better place.Alvin Sanders — We also have a posture of that we’re not the saviors. Many people who are in ministry, we get in it for the right reasons, but then we think that we’re the king and not a subject of the kingdom. Right. And so we think that whatever ministry we’re in, whether it’s urban, suburban, whatever it may be, that we’re the saviors. It’s like, no no, no, no, that’s not the right posture. The right posture is that to be utilized by God, you know.Alvin Sanders — And then also anybody who’s been in ministry any any time in their life, any, you know, they are going to experience a lot of what’s called secondary trauma.Alvin Sanders — You know, like mine was very intense being in a very violent neighborhood and ministering there. But even in suburban context, there’s a lot of things. Now, Rich, don’t know if you ever experienced this, but, you know, people, the sheep bite. Rich Birch — True.Alvin Sanders — They talk about the pastor. Rich Birch — Yeah.Alvin Sanders — They do a lot of things. You know, you’re misinterpreted all the time. There’s a lot of hurtful things that happen to you… Rich Birch — Yeah, it’s true. Alvin Sanders — …from an emotional perspective. And if you if you try to blow them off or roll them under, you know, let them it’s water under the bridge. No, no, no. Those things need to be engaged. Alvin Sanders — So that’s keeping the right posture, making sure we keep the right pace in ministry. So we have one school of spiritual formation, one one one leg stool of engaging stressors. And then the third leg stool is is skill set development. Alvin Sanders — And we have to understand that developing the right skills will not save us from burnout. That’s a false dichotomy. People think, oh, well, if I just develop X, Y, and z well, then, you know, I won’t burn out. No. um There are three primary skill sets that I think people need to understand when it comes to any type of ministry or wherever they’re doing it. A big one is emotional intelligence.Alvin Sanders — It’s there’s a guy by name of Daniel Goldman who really popularized the concept. He wrote this book years and years ago called “Primal Leadership”. And that book makes the case that therere there are things that you can develop to emotionally regulate yourself.Alvin Sanders — There’s a book they they don’t call it emotional intelligence, but it’s another classic called “Leadership and Self-Deception”. It’s a classic book which teaches you how you can engage the workplace and and by emotionally regulating yourself, which I think is directly correlated to spiritual maturity.Rich Birch — True.Alvin Sanders — There’s also the skill set of leadership development. I believe that everybody is a leader, right? We don’t all have the same responsibilities as leaders, but there are things that we can do to develop ourselves to become better leaders in the situations that we find ourselves in. Alvin Sanders — And then there’s also a a skill set that we can develop where we engage our ministry context in a dignified manner. So that’s sort of like our three-legged stool at World Impact, you know, spiritual formation, engaging stressors and skill set. And you can’t, just like a stool, if you remove one of the legs…Rich Birch — Right.Alvin Sanders — …the stool will not work. So all three have to be intertwined and working together to give you that strong foundation. And if you do those things, I have found that, you know, you won’t touch burnout. Because… Rich Birch — Right. It’s so good. Alvin Sanders — Yeah. So I’m very, very focused on that. And we have interwoven all of those things within the DNA of World Impact.Rich Birch — Yeah, I love that.Alvin Sanders — Yeah, I love…Rich Birch — There’s there’s so much to unpack there, friends. And there’s, you know, in six minutes there, you gave us what a great picture of how we should be thinking and leading in our environments. I love, particularly, you know, you talked you touched on the emotional quotient, the eq issue.Rich Birch — And, um you know, I’ve had a a friend of mine say, you know, it’s it’s impossible to be spiritually mature if you’re emotionally immature. And I think…Alvin Sanders — One hundred percent.Rich Birch — I think that’s true. And there are, we all know these people who they they walk around like they’re spiritually mature, but they’re they’re, you know, emotionally immature and it comes off. It’s like they’re bleeding. It’s like the internet’s made for these people.Rich Birch — Like they are, those people get good followings, which is terrible. And you know, they get people around them who are just like, yes, sir. Yes, sir. It’s usually sirs. Unfortunately, it’s a lot of guys… Alvin Sanders — Yes. Rich Birch — …you know, we’ve got to fight that. And I love that you’re, you’re attempting to do that, you know, at, you know, in the organization you lead at World Impact, I think is, is incredible. And one of the things, you know, calling this out, I’m not directly engaged in urban ministry, but the thing I, I think is, like, I think every ministry has its stressors to it. Alvin Sanders — Yes.Rich Birch — I think every ministry has trauma related to it. And I think what you’ve outlined here, we can apply really in any context. Alvin Sanders — Yes.Rich Birch — But I do want to underline for our listeners, the fact that this has come out of a context where, again, I don’t want to stigmatize or create stereotypes around urban ministry, but there is a lot of trauma. There is a lot of stress in the ministry.Alvin Sanders — Yes. Rich Birch — You know When you’re dealing in communities that are experiencing homelessness and poverty and you know, you know at the conflict, at the you know the epicenter of racial conflict, and you know all ah all of that creates the context that makes it next to impossible to serve in. And the fact that you’re leading there, I just want to commend you you know on that. Alvin Sanders — Yes. Rich Birch — And so this is actually a part of, well, talk to me about the expanded second edition of “Redemptive Poverty Work” and how does that tie into what we’re talking about today? Because I want to move people even towards that call to action out of today’s conversation.Alvin Sanders — Yeah. So the the things that I’ve talked about that I just talked about that we instilled at World Impact, it definitely works in in any context, no doubt about it. What I tell my suburban colleagues is that whatever you experience in the suburbs, 10x it. And that’s in the urban context.Rich Birch — That makes sense. Okay, that’s good.Alvin Sanders — Just 10x it. It’s not that you don’t experience these things.Rich Birch — Right.Alvin Sanders — It’s that it’s much more intense…Rich Birch — Yeah.Alvin Sanders — …within the urban context.Rich Birch — Yeah.Alvin Sanders — So the expanded edition of “Redemptive Poverty Work” is is my attempt to really have our vision at World Impact come to fruition. Because at World Impact, if our vision is a healthy church in every community experiencing poverty, we cannot not talk about burnout.Alvin Sanders — Because the burnout rate within the urban context, because of the 10X that happens down there in in this in the urban community—but increasingly in suburban communities, to be quite honest with you. The same dynamics are happening in certain suburban communities—is that you have to be able to deal with it. And the big way that you deal with it is that you are intentionally engaging those things that can cause you to burn out.Rich Birch — That’s good. Alvin Sanders — Cause you cannot have a healthy church unless you have spiritually formed pastors who are engaging stressors and who are developing the skillset to make the community a better place.Alvin Sanders — So, It was basically by doing things in the field and spending a lot of time with our partners that I said, you know what, these folk need an expansion. Because when I wrote “Redemptive Poverty Work” a couple of years ago that we talked about, it was a little booklet and it was more academic.Rich Birch — Right.Alvin Sanders — But what I realized is, hey, these folk need to know how to implement this in a practical sense. So that’s what the expanded version is about. It’s not only teaching you the principle, it’s like, here here’s how you can apply this to your life. It’s sort of like a field handbook, so to speak.Rich Birch — Yeah, that’s fantastic. I think it’d be great for people to pick up, you know, a copy of this. And, you know, I think it could be really helpful for them as they’re thinking about, you know, ministry in any context. Even to help if there are folks that are listening in, you know, that serve in a suburban context and they’re trying to gain, you know, a bit more understanding of there are urban, but you know, brothers and sisters as they’re, you know, leading there. I think this could be a helpful resource.Rich Birch — For folks that picked up the first edition, you know, should they pick pick up a second? I know you’re not just trying to sell books, but like, help me understand, you know, obviously you’ve added a lot to it. For folks that are familiar with your work, what would your, you know, kind of what’s your recommendation that, you know, for them?Alvin Sanders — Yes, because the the first Redemptive Poverty Work booklet is really only one chapter in the expanded edition. It’s, as I said earlier, it’s really about how to apply and how not to burn out.Rich Birch — That’s great.Alvin Sanders — The whole thing is it assumes that there’s a point in your walk in doing your work of the ministry that you’re going you’re going to hit a wallRich Birch — Yep.Alvin Sanders — I don’t know anyone in ministry, let alone urban ministry, who hasn’t at some point hit a wall.Rich Birch — Right.Alvin Sanders — Right. To go back to sports analogy. Right. Talk about how if you’re a rookie and you’re coming into the and NBA, you only play like 40 or some college games. NBA has 82 games. No matter how skilled you are, no matter how much you play, about game 50, you’re going to hit a wall because you’ve never really played at that intense level for that long.Rich Birch — Yep.Alvin Sanders — Same thing with ministry.Alvin Sanders — At some point, you’re going to hit a wall. So within this urban context, you know when you hit that wall or hopefully before you hit the wall, read this book and begin to implement it in your life. It’s a failure for you just to buy the book and read it. Rich Birch — Yes.Alvin Sanders — A lot of books you just write, you buy it and you read it and you go, oh, I got the knowledge. I’m good. No, this book is like, read it and apply it. And I can tell you, it’ll work if you do so.Rich Birch — That’s so good. Where do we want to send people to pick up copies of the book? Where online? you know how how can they How can they get their hands on it?Alvin Sanders — Yeah, just go to Amazon. you can get it off of Amazon. Redemptive Poverty Work Expanded Edition. Rich Birch — That’s great.Alvin Sanders — You type that in or you can type in Alvin Sanders and I’m sure it’ll pop up. Rich Birch — That’s great. Alvin Sanders — Yeah, we’d we’d love for you to get it. You know, got paperback and hardback versions that are there. Rich Birch — Nice.Alvin Sanders — And then you can also go on YouTube. We just had it. We launched it last week. We had a webinar… Rich Birch — Great. Alvin Sanders — …around the topic of redemptive poverty work. It was about an hour long. So if you’re really interested in this topic, you can check that webinar out as well.Rich Birch — Nice. Yeah, we’ll link to that in the show notes to make it even easier for folks to to find that. We’d love for for people to track with you, Alvin. You’re doing such a great, great work. So let’s take us back to 2007.Rich Birch — Let’s say there’s a leader who’s listening into, well, I know that there’s a leader who’s listening in today. There’s at least one… Alvin Sanders — Yeah. Rich Birch — …in the couple thousand people that are listening in who are heading towards where you were in 2007. Not the new part, not the new job part, but the like, oh, I’m burnt out.Alvin Sanders — Yes.Rich Birch — This is not good. Maybe today they’ve been listening in and they realize, oh, wait a second. Maybe they had a similar thing with their kid. Hey, dad. Hey, mom. Why are you here? What’s one thing you’d want them to do this week? What’s one action step that they could take coming out of today’s conversation? Alvin Sanders — Well, I would say, I’m going to cheat. I’m going to give you more than one. But first is to admit where you’re at.Rich Birch — That’s good.Alvin Sanders — Because there are so I hate to say it. There are some faith traditions where it’s downright almost sinful to admit that you might be burned out. What? You don’t you don’t pray enough. You don’t do this. You don’t do that. Say, you know what? I’m tired. I’m still committed, but I’m tired. I’m jaded. I’m whatever. So the first thing is to embrace that. Alvin Sanders — The second thing is, you know, get some rest. You might it might just be an Elijah situation. You know, Elijah wanted to die and God said, no, man, just just go lay down.Rich Birch — Yeah, have a nap.Alvin Sanders — You know, you just had a really, really intense situation. Go lay down. Take some time. Go take a nap. Get some refreshment. Get some food. Look at your schedule and say, am I actually taking at least one day a week off? You know, are what’s your rhythm of rest, right? Rich Birch — Yeah, that’s good. Alvin Sanders — Are you resting as hard as you’re working?Rich Birch — That’s good.Alvin Sanders — Are you taking vacation? You know, or is vacation for the weak, right? Are you taking your paid holidays off? Do, actually really start to take the commandment of Sabbath seriously… Rich Birch — That’s good. Alvin Sanders — …and actually start to rest?Alvin Sanders — And then there are some of us, and, you know, and there’s nothing wrong with this either. We may be too far gone, and we may need to take some time to go see a counselor, and to unpack things. Rich Birch — That’s good. Alvin Sanders — And to unpack some emotional wounds and things of that nature. So I would say, you know, first, acknowledge where you’re at. Second, actually start to rest. And then third, if these things aren’t really working, don’t be prideful. Go see a mental health counselor.Rich Birch — Yeah, that’s good. Alvin, you’ve been a gift again to our audience. Thank you so much for for being here today, for helping us think through these issues and take some steps. If people want to track with you or with World Impact, where do we want to send them online?Alvin Sanders — Well, if you want to track with me, you know, as a good Gen Xer like you, I’m on LinkedIn. So you just place to find me.Rich Birch — Love it. Love it.Alvin Sanders — It’s LinkedIn. Find me on LinkedIn. I have an Instagram account. I ain’t been on that Instagram account in forever. So, you know, that’s just not me. But you can find me on LinkedIn.Rich Birch — Love it.Alvin Sanders — If you want to personally interact, talk, whatever. Great thing to do on LinkedIn. And then the other thing is go to worldimpact.org and you can learn a lot more about World Impact and what we do.Alvin Sanders — We’d love to serve you.Rich Birch — That’s great. Thanks so much for being here today. I really appreciate you taking some time to be with us.Alvin Sanders — All right. Thanks for having me. 

What happens when the life you carefully built begins to crack under the weight of a love you never truly left behind?Author Karen Gray joins Vigilantes Radio Live to discuss her emotionally charged novel, Illusion of Happiness. The story follows Elizabeth Ward, a woman whose peaceful life in Connecticut is disrupted when Michael Lessing—the brilliant, emotionally volatile man she once loved—returns to New York.Their unexpected reunion forces Elizabeth to confront unresolved passion, heartbreak, memory, and the possibility that the happiness she created may have been built partly on avoidance.Karen explores the novel's central themes, including self-deception, nostalgia, emotional survival, intimacy, and the difficult line between protecting your peace and hiding from the truth. She also discusses the psychological tension between safety and risk, why some relationships leave permanent emotional marks, and whether healing sometimes requires returning to the past—or finally letting it go.This conversation is for anyone who has ever questioned whether they missed a person, a feeling, or the version of themselves that existed inside a former love.https://www.amazon.com/Illusion-Happiness-Karen-Gray-ebook/dp/B0G633ZWBQ/refhttps://www.karengraybooks.com/Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/vigilantes-radio-live--2166168/support.Vigilantes Radio Live! by The Only One Media Group ℗©2025Episode Credits:Produced, edited, mixed, and written by Demetrius "Whodini Blak" Reynolds, Sr.Artwork designed by Demetrius "Whodini Blak" Reynolds, Sr.Show Introduction by KateSegment jingles composed & produced by Demetrius "Whodini Blak" Reynolds, Sr.Additional music licensed through 7th Sign RecordingsLinks:onlyonemediagroup.comhttps://www.instagram.com/vigilantesradio/https://www.iheart.com/podcast/966-vigilantes-radio-live-29999229/https://www.instagram.com/whodiniblakin3d/https://www.imdb.com/title/tt26009230/To support our show, please leave reviews, ratings, or you can help fuel the passion over at buymeacoffee.com/vigilantesradioEmail us at onlyonemgt@gmail.com or vradio@onlyonemediagroup.com

The problems that come from self-deception are well-known and are illustrated in stories from around the world. The feelings and motivations that we reject in ourselves often hide in our subconscious and can come out in unforeseen ways, leading to more suffering. Here Kris explores the ways Jungian and Buddhist philosophies address this major vulnerability of the human ego and points out ways we can begin to face the issues we hide from ourselves.

Apologetics, Debate, Bible Discussions, Evangelism, and much more "Christianity is a Person, not a system" - https://youtu.be/1-02nnh5Das?si=8-p2u1cxfCS2Uo4I Discerning the fruits of the Spirit vs the fruits of self - Mark 7:5-23 "The mystic fruit bowl" - https://youtu.be/kw7QiLQMQ_M?si=356Fx_r9ohUeTLwjThe Deity of Jesus Christ and the Gospel of Salvation - https://www.youtube.com/live/gquqBQIL_0U?si=7zmPLi1X0CcW-v7f(Discussing discipleship) Bible study on Luke 9:60-62 "Let the dead bury the dead" - https://www.youtube.com/live/BkWtkOrEs-Q?si=y-zyqNGfWi3kzVu2To know more on how to be saved, what are the requirements and such, please see our playlist on the Gospel and Eternal Security (assurance of salvation) - https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL3pJdCnnwrEeCQOCTTmDW1GjUYxpd44DG&si=_rT-lThl0klHt5Cd Our Ministries Website - https://christiancoffeetime.ca/ 1John 5:20) "And we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding, that we may know him that is true, and we are in him that is true, even in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life."

The Christian life is not measured by how deeply we feel, but by whether our sorrow over sin leads to genuine change. In the first sermon in our summer series, Charles Spurgeon calls us to examine whether our repentance is producing obedience or simply another emotional moment.

Our bumper Download Festival 2026 special, we review all the bands we managed to catch over the weekend plus interviews with: Snot, Self Deception, Conjurer, Ankor & Elder.  We also predict our headliners for 2027.  Our new merch is now available at https://www.dethkult.co/collections/machograndepod Audible - audibletrial.com/machogrande Spotify Playlists Voicemail - 05603 689 842 contact us - info@machograndepodcast.co.uk Twitter - @machograndepod 'This (non profit) podcast is intended for promotional purposes only' Macho Grande Podcast' does not claim to own copyright etc, all copyright is respected to the artists and labels.

Click here to view the episode transcript. The Arbinger Institute's classic books on interpersonal resistance: Leadership and Self-Deception and The Anatomy of PeaceSteven Pressfield's classic book on intrapersonal resistance: The War of ArtJoin the conversation on YouTube or Reply on Bluesky Recording Date: 2026-05-11

Is so-called "self-deception" a real thing? How can one at once be aware that something is true and yet also be unaware of it? Is it even a coherent concept? Doesn't deception require at least two entities—the deceived and the deceiver? Can "self-deception" be explained as something much simpler, namely deception?Bruce summarizes his views on self-deception, moralizing, and dogmatism from a critical rationalist perspective, as well as it's relevance for AGI, "Super Intelligences", and human dogmatism.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Support us on Patreon⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Click here to view the episode transcript. Join the conversation on YouTube or Reply on Bluesky Recording Date: 

Our 2026 Download Festival warm up show featuring music from: Return To Dust, Self Deception, Headwreck & Ankor. Live review of Bruit in Sheffield. Plus the usual news & chat from the alternative world.    Our new merch is now available at https://www.dethkult.co/collections/machograndepod Audible - audibletrial.com/machogrande Spotify Playlists Voicemail - 05603 689 842 contact us - info@machograndepodcast.co.uk Twitter - @machograndepod 'This (non profit) podcast is intended for promotional purposes only' Macho Grande Podcast' does not claim to own copyright etc, all copyright is respected to the artists and labels.    

A simple definition of deception is to make someone believe something that isn't true. Every Christian in ongoing sexual sin has mastered the art of deception. And while we often think of deception as something we do to other people, the most dangerous form may be the deception we do to ourselves. Steve Martin, Biblical counselor at Pure Life Ministries, joins the podcast to talk about how to recognize self-deception, its dangers, and what you must do about it.   Resources we mentioned: At the Altar of Sexual Idolatry (Book) By Steve Gallagher   Have Any Questions for Us?

Today we have clips from every interview that aired in the month of May, including conversations with Sofia DeMasi of Torn Open, Ernie Fabian and Justin Jones from idle threat, Anders Jacobsson and Daniel Johansson from Draconian, Frida Ohlin and Jonas Gustavsson from Rexoria, Andreas Clark of Self Deception, Jeremy Walker from Fire In The Mountains, Ben Koehler of Archers, Shane Prickett of Slow Degrade, John Dillon of Code:Words, Joe Stamps of Hecate Enthroned, Marc Mifune and Jean-Anael Abaux from Hanry, and Christian Liljegren, CJ Grimmark, and Jonatan Samuelsson from Narnia!DiscordPatreonSubstack Email: asthestorygrows@gmail.com Music: Torn Open - "A Testament to Stoicism" idle threat - "In Tandem" Draconian - "The Monochrome Blade" Rexoria - "Dancing On The Ruins" Self Deception - "The Wedding" Neurosis - "Mirror Deep" Archers - "The Dirt" Slow Degrade - "Lead Me Down: Code:Words - "Wash The Blood" Hecate Enthroned - "Spirits Stir Within Our Ancestors Tombs" Hanry - "Aurora" Narnia - "Like A Thief In The Night"  

James 2:14-26

Self Deception on The Sound 228 dives deep into the current pulse of their music, their sights set on the Download Festival, and the playful genesis of their standout track “Matthew McConaughhhey.” During the conversation, the band opens up about their latest creative steps — including new sounds and how they're shaping their evolving identity in rock. They break down what inspired their “Matthew McConaughhhey” single, a riff-laden anthem born from a lighthearted moment during recording that turned into a full-fledged song idea. Along the way they share stories from the studio, hype up where they're headed next (including festival plans), and give listeners a behind-the-scenes look at their craft and drive as a rising rock act.

On this episode of Good Noise Podcast, I'm joined by Andreas Clark from Self Deception to talk about their album One Of Us. We dive into the energy and emotion behind the record, exploring the themes that shape the album and how the band balanced intensity with melody across the project.Andreas shares insight into the writing process, the inspiration behind One Of Us, and how the album reflects both personal perspective and the band's continued growth. We also talk about creative evolution, pushing their sound forward, and what this release represents for Self Deception moving forward.Self Deception Socials:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/selfdeception_official/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/selfdeceptionsthlmTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@selfdeception_officialApple Music: https://music.apple.com/us/artist/self-deception/272157652Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/0FHW0Lp33r3fvIG0HL4mW0?si=9e788b521af84722

Why is self-awareness so difficult?In this teaching on Psalm 19, John Ortberg explores self-deception, blind spots, hidden faults, and the surprising difficulty of honestly seeing ourselves.The Psalmist asks: “Who can discern their own errors?”That question launches a fascinating exploration of:- Freud and the unconscious mind- Cognitive bias and self-deception- Why humans protect their image- The role of feedback and mirrors- Spiritual growth through honesty- Grace, confession, and healingThis episode explores how Scripture and modern psychology intersect around one central truth: human beings are remarkably good at hiding truth from themselves.And yet real freedom begins when we become willing to see.Scriptures:- Psalm 19:12–14- Romans 1- Obadiah 1:3Resources mentioned:- Freud- George Eliot- Gregg Ten Elshof- Awakenings#psalm19  #JohnOrtberg #SelfAwareness #SpiritualFormation #ChristianFaith #Psychology #Prayer #BibleStudy #BlindSpots #Psalms

On this episode of The Rewrite, I'm joined by Dr. Stephen Paul Edwards—author, speaker, and PhD in Spiritual Counseling. Stephen's work dives deep into the unconscious patterns that shape our relationships, our choices, and ultimately, our lives. But what makes this conversation so powerful is that it's not just theory—it's lived experience. We talk about what happens when you can no longer ignore the gap between who you think you are… and how you're actually showing up. From cycles of desire, secrecy, and emotional avoidance—to radical self-honesty and accountability—Stephen shares what it really takes to confront yourself and choose a different path forward. This episode explores:• Why we stay stuck in patterns that hurt us• The role of accountability in true healing• Understanding desire, attachment, and emotional dependency• What it means to rewrite your identity—not just your behavior Stephen also shares insights from his book, The Venus Fly Trap: Sex, Lies, and Repercussions—a raw and revealing look at the consequences of unconscious living and the power of choosing differently. If you've ever found yourself repeating patterns you don't fully understand… This conversation is for you.Follow Stephen: https://www.instagram.com/vft23_official/https://x.com/Stephen_Edwardzhttps://www.facebook.com/people/VFT23/61575468609762/https://www.linkedin.com/in/seemiracleshttps://www.tiktok.com/@vft23_official?lang=enhttps://vft23.com/

In this episode, Barnaby sits down with Andreas Clark of SELF DECEPTION to explore the band's journey from their early days on Swedish music forums to releasing their Napalm Records debut One Of Us.Andreas opens up about writing on tour, the emotional core of the album, the story behind tracks like ONE OF US, TIME'S UP, THE WEDDING, and DON'T B E L O N G, and the importance of talking openly about mental health.They also discuss the band's upcoming festival season, including their appearance at Download Festival, and Andreas shares the three pivotal records that shaped him as an artist.A powerful, honest, and energetic conversation with one of Sweden's most exciting modern rock bands.

Chapter 714 - "I Ask Questions In Every Song" ...as read by Andreas Clark of Self Deception Today we welcome Self Deception frontman Andreas Clark to the podcast!. Self Deception will release their Napalm Records debut, One Of Us, this Friday! Andreas talks about trying to make your living as a creative person in Sweden, the push to keep trying to make music and entertaining work as a career, the band trying to find their place in the musical landscape, the themes and ideas behind One Of Us and the artistic direction of the band, and more! https://selfdeception.se/https://napalmrecords.us/collections/self-deceptionDiscordPatreonSubstack Email: asthestorygrows@gmail.com Chapter 714 Music: Self Deception - "One Of Us" Self Deception - "Don't B E L O N G" Self Deception - "The Wedding"

On this episode of That Don't Sound Right, Peter and Cecil wade into one of the great outdoor debates: can you really predict what animals are going to do? From fishing forecasts in old almanacs to deer movement charts, moon phases, barometric pressure, turkey season lore, and generations of hunting wisdom, the guys explore the long tradition of people trying to “read” nature before heading outdoors. Do fish bite better under a full moon? Can weather shifts predict deer activity? Or are we all just buying fancy calendars and hoping for the best? Along the way, Peter and Cecil swap stories about fishing, backpacking, getting startled by turkeys, and the kinds of outdoor advice that gets passed down as absolute truth—even when nobody's completely sure where it came from. As always, the conversation stays true to the spirit of That Don't Sound Right: no instant Googling, no live fact-checking, just good old-fashioned conversation and the collective expertise of whoever's around the table. Whether you're a hunter, fisherman, outdoorsman, or just someone who's heard an old-timer confidently predict animal behavior based on the moon, this episode is packed with laughs, nostalgia, and a few theories that may—or may not—sound right. #tdsrpodcast #ThatDontSoundRight #Fishing #Hunting #DeerMovement #TurkeySeason #OutdoorLife #FishingForecast #FarmersAlmanac #MoonPhases #NatureTalk #Backpacking #CountryLife #FunnyPodcast #OldTimerWisdom Connect with us:

Send us Fan MailOn today's PoM podcast episode we continue our walk through James taking a look at what James says about what we learn, what we know and what we do. Learn more about The Pursuit of Manliness: https://www.thepursuitofmanliness.com/ Secure your spot in Tribe XVIII https://www.thepursuitofmanliness.com/gear/p/tribe-xviiiJoin The Herd:  https://www.thepursuitofmanliness.com/join-the-herdRegister for our 2026 Fall Men's Retreat: https://www.thepursuitofmanliness.com/gear/p/2026-mens-retreatSupport the show

Ian Leslie joins James Smith to unpack the uncomfortable truth about honesty: we can't actually handle it. A bestselling author and host of the Where Shall We Meet podcast, Ian argues that lying isn't a bug in human nature but an evolutionary feature — the very thing responsible for our big brains, our creativity, and our capacity for art.

Click here to find Tyler's new generative book, The Marginal Revolution: Rise and Decline, and the Pending AI Revolution! Arthur Brooks reckons he's on the fourth leg of a spiral-shaped career: French horn player, economist, president of the American Enterprise Institute, and now Harvard professor and evangelist for the science of happiness. His new book, The Meaning of Your Life: Finding Purpose in an Age of Emptiness, argues that happiness isn't a feeling but a combination of enjoyment, satisfaction, and meaning — the macronutrients of happiness, he calls them — and that most of us are gorging on the wrong ones. Tyler, naturally, wants to know: what's the marginal value of a book on happiness, and what does spiral number five look like? Along the way, Tyler and Arthur cover how scarcity makes savoring possible and why knowing you'll die young sharpens the mind, what twin studies tell us about the genetics of well-being and why that's not actually depressing, the four habits of the genuinely happy, the placebo theory of happiness books, curiosity as an evolved positive emotion, the optimal degree of self-deception, why Arthur chose Catholicism rather than Orthodoxy, what the research says about accepting death, how he became an economist via correspondence school, AI's effect on think tanks, the future of classical music, whether Trumpism or Reaganism is the equilibrium state of American conservatism, whether his views on immigration have changed, what he and Oprah actually agree on, which president from his lifetime he most admires, Barcelona versus Madrid, what 60-year-olds are especially good at, why he's reading Josef Pieper, how he'll face death, and much more. Read a full transcript enhanced with helpful links, or watch the full video on the new dedicated Conversations with Tyler channel. Recorded March 19th, 2026. This episode was made possible through the support of the John Templeton Foundation. Other ways to connect Follow us on X and Instagram Follow Tyler on X Follow Arthur on X Sign up for our newsletter Join our Discord Email us: cowenconvos@mercatus.gmu.edu Learn more about Conversations with Tyler and other Mercatus Center podcasts here. Timestamps: 00:00:00 - Intro 00:02:10 - The Macronutrients of Happiness 00:07:54 - What Happiness Books are Worth 00:12:28 - The Habits of the Happiest People 00:14:27 - Why the Young Reject Happiness Advice 00:17:35 - Curiosity's Role in Happiness 00:20:22 - Self-Deception 00:22:04 - Facing Death 00:25:44 - Choosing a Religion 00:28:41 - Immigration 00:30:27 - The American Right Wing 00:33:55 - AI's Role in Happiness 00:37:12 - What Drives Generosity 00:38:37 - Oprah's Political Views 00:40:16 - Which Political Leaders Arthur Admires 00:41:59 - The Best French Horn Players 00:43:40 - Arthur's Spiral of Careers 00:48:20 - The Future of Think Tanks 00:49:50 - The Future of Classical Music 00:51:27 - Living in Spain 00:55:34 - Age and Peak Performance 00:56:12 - What Arthur Will Do Next 00:59:14 - Outro Image Credit: Jenny Sherman

In this episode of Infinite Loops, we sit down with venture capitalist and physicist Arkady Kulikov to explore the psychology behind founders, responsibility, and self-deception. Kulik discusses why the hardest problems in business are almost always human problems, how great founders deal with stress, and why the biggest lie entrepreneurs tell is often to themselves. He also explains how investors evaluate founder psychology, why difficult conversations are essential in business, and why resilience is more about adaptability than stubbornness. Important Links: Listen to our last conversation with Arkady here: https://www.infiniteloopspodcast.com/arkady-kulik-bridging-science-entrepreneurship-ep193/ Arkady's deep tech venture fund, rpv global: https://rpv.global/ 

God has great plans for our lives, but those plans are blocked when we deceive ourselves. Deceiving ourselves makes us spiritually blind to the truth of a situation; this is something God wants to deliver us from. Self-deception springs from the fall of man in the garden of Eden, and our sinful nature that resulted from it. The lies we believe about ourselves neutralize us. Recognizing who we are in Christ and believing what God says about us opens our eyes to the truth about ourselves. To support the ministry financially, text "CDMPodcast" to 74483 or visit www.worldchangers.org

Upgrade to the Ad Free Premium Podcast Experience - https://rachelhollis.supercast.com Rachel Hollis gives a tough-love talk on self-deception—how people perform a version of their lives (especially through social media) to feel significant, but end up emptier because they avoid facing what's real. She breaks down three common lies (performing growth instead of doing it, living in “someday,” and performing for an audience) and offers steps to get honest: a reality-check person, a calendar/bank audit, and saying the true thing out loud. Get your copy of Rachel's Book Here: Audible, Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Books-A-Millon, Bookshop.org, or wherever books are sold! 00:00 Scarcity Mindset & Why “Faking Abundance” Feels Empty 01:09 Meet Rachel Hollis + Why This Episode Is Tough Love 03:36 The Pattern: Performing Your Life Instead of Living It 06:10 Rachel's Vertigo Story: When Emotions Show Up in the Body 08:55 You Can't Fix What You Refuse to Face (Fake It Till You Make It?) 11:13 What Self-Deception Is—and Why Your Brain Does It 14:22 Sawyer, Mirrors, and the Cost of Not Seeing Reality Clearly 19:21 The Quest for Significance: Social Media, Scarcity, and “Looking Successful” 28:10 3 Types of Self-Deception (Type #1: Performing Growth vs. Real Growth) 30:05 When Self-Help Becomes a Trap: Consuming vs. Actually Growing 32:01 ‘Eat Pray Love' Syndrome: Changing Scenery Without Changing Patterns 33:26 Real Work Isn't Cute: The Uncomfortable, Unseen Healing Process 35:39 Self-Deception #2: Living in ‘Someday' Instead of Facing Today 38:35 Self-Deception #3: Performing Your Life for an Audience (Social + AI) 44:07 The Way Through: Ego Deaths, Radical Honesty, and Letting Go of the Facade 46:06 Her Biggest Ego Check: Why ‘Girl, Wash Your Face' Was Mostly Luck 50:14 3 Practical Steps to Get Real: Accountability, Audits, and Saying It Out Loud 54:37 Closing Reminder: You're Human—Choose Truth in One Area This Week Sign up for Rachel's weekly email: https://msrachelhollis.com/insider/ Call the podcast hotline and leave a voicemail! Call (737) 400-4626 Watch the podcast on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/RachelHollisMotivation/videos Follow along on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/MsRachelHollis   To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.