Attaching to God: Neuroscience-informed Spiritual Formation
Attaching to God is a podcast that connects relational neuroscience and attachment theory with Christian faith and spiritual formation. Co-hosts Geoff Holsclaw, a pastor and professor, and Cyd Holsclaw, a spiritual director and integrative coach, speak with practitioners, therapists, theologians, and researchers. Together they explore how to grow in spiritual and relational maturity. The show offers practical help for living well with ourselves, others, and God.
Episodes
(Cross Post) The Head-Heart Disconnect: Cultivating a Deeper Relationship with God (with Colleen Ramser)
This episode is cross-posted from Here, Not There, by Colleen Ramser, where she turns the tables and interviews me about the work we do and the upcoming Attaching to God Summit, focused on Deepening Relationships. Below are Colleen's show notes. What if the gap between what you believe about God (head) and what you feel (heart) has something to do with the way your brain learned to protect y
150 From Inner Shadows to Secure Souls (with Dr. Alison Cook)
Does security come from the outside? Or is security something we can cultivate from within as we become more and more anchored in God’s unshakable love? Geoff Holsclaw talks with therapist and psychologist of religion Dr. Allison Cook about her new book, The Secure Soul: Finding Inner Strength and Connection When Trust Doesn’t Come Easily. They talk about internal family systems (parts work), and
149 Worship & Awe as Aspects of Mental Health (with Joshua Knabb)
Mental health resources increasingly focus on the self as the antidote to psychological suffering, offering strategies for prioritizing self-care and self-esteem. Yet as people focus more on the self, their suffering may actually worsen. Clinical psychologist Joshua Knabb argues that when people focus less on the self and more on God, their mental and spiritual health may improve.Clinical psycholo
148 Forming Fathers and Men (Father's Day special with Rusty McKie)
Geoff Holsclaw welcomes Rusty McKie—spiritual director, somatic coach, pastor, author of The Art of Stability, and founder of Steadfast Ministry. In this special Father’s Day episode, Geoff and Rusty talk about how seasons of orientation, disorientation, and reorientation shape both midlife discernment and a boy’s transition into manhood. Rusty explains his burden to help fathers and sons navigate
147 Sin as Disorder and Asceticism as Healing, pt 2 (Voices from the Kellia—with David Clayton)
Geoff continues talking with regular guest David Clayton about how the Desert Fathers and Mothers understood sin as discorder (of all kinds) and how asceticism was a path toward freedom to love God and others. They discuss sin not merely as rule-breaking but as patterns that impair clear seeing, free choosing, and loving well. Asceticism is presented as training that frees the heart by reshaping h
146 Sin as Disorder and Asceticism as Healing, pt. 1 (Voices from the Kellia—with David Clayton)
In this episode on early Christian monasticism, Geoff and regular guest David Clayton explore how the Desert Fathers and Mothers understood sin as discorder (of all kinds) and how asceticism was a path toward freedom to love God and others. They discuss sin not merely as rule-breaking but as patterns that impair clear seeing, free choosing, and loving well. Asceticism is presented as training that
145 The Life-Changing Art of Self-Brain Surgery (with Dr. Lee Warren)
What if you have more power over how you experience your life than you think? What if you could learn how to change the patterns that are keeping you stuck? What if there is a life-changing art of self-brain surgery?Geoff and Cyd Holsclaw interview neurosurgeon, trauma survivor, and author Dr. Lee Warren about the shift from feeling like a helpless “patient” to acting with agency like a “doctor.”
144 Discipling The Diseased Imagination (with Dr. Justin Bailey)
You often hear that we live by the stories we tell about our lives and the lives of others. But how does that actually work? It works through our imaginations, that part of the mind that allows us to see what’s deeper, that ‘something more’ of experience, that reality bigger than the world. Dr. Justin Bailey joins the show to talk about how the imagination dwells at the heart of discipleship and s
When God Seems Distant: From Dry Seasons to Spiritual Growth (with Kyle Strobel)
Host Geoff Holsclaw interviews Dr. Kyle Strobel (Institute for Spiritual Formation, Talbot School of Theology) about his book When God Seems Distant: Surprising Ways God Deepens Our Faith and Draws Us Near. Kyle explains “early consolation” as a common season where God gives pleasure and zeal that can mask unformed character, and how this can be followed by “the desert” where these early consolati
142 When Believing Isn’t Blind, but It Doesn’t have Sight Either
During this Easter week, Geoff and Cyd Holsclaw talk about how we walk by faith, and not by sight (2 Corinthians 5:7), but that this isn't just blind faith. They discuss walking by faith, emphasizing that Christian faith is relational trust and attachment rather than merely ideas, and that faith crises often begin with emotional wounds and ruptures in church relationships that later get trans
141 Exchanging our Emotional Yo-Yos for Jesus's Yes
In this episode of the Attaching to God podcast, Geoff and Cyd Holsclaw explore the ancient Christian “Great Exchange”, that Jesus became what we are so we could become what he is—taking on humanity, sin, weakness, and death to give righteousness, strength, adoption, and life. They contrast Peter’s Passion-week emotional “yo-yo” with Jesus’ steady “yes,” holding both intimacy and independence with
140 How Examined Weakness Becomes Formative (Voices from the Kellia—with David Clayton)
Geoff Holsclaw and regular guest David Clayton continue their monastic series, exploring how “unexamined strength becomes brittle” while "examined weakness becomes formative." Using desert monasticism as a “laboratory of revelation,” they describe how removing distractions exposes deeper emotions, thoughts, and disordered attachments, all of which invite humility, integration, and grace.
139 Why A Doomscrolling World Needs a Return to Joy
Hosts Geoff and Cyd talk about how to return to joy in a doomscrolling world by creating small moments to turn toward God instead of compulsively turning to devices.They explore why people doom scroll—negativity bias, seeking control, dopamine loops, emotional avoidance, fear of missing out, and “revenge bedtime procrastination”—and how constant exposure to global danger can overwhelm the nervous
138 Is Humility Bad For Your Self-Esteem, or Good For Loving Others? (Voices from the Kellia)
In a world of self-promotion, self-esteem, and self-worth, is there a place for Christian humility? What can we learn from the monks of old and how they connected humility to love?Host Geoff Holsclaw welcomes back David Clayton (Spiritual Director and Forensics Behavioral Analyst) to continue our monastic series (Voices from the Kellia), where they talk about how humility for the monk was not just
137 What If God Actually Likes You?
Cyd and Geoff continue their Lent/wilderness theme by challenging common images of God as stern, aloof, or judgmental and emphasizing instead that God’s face is turned toward us with joy. Using the Aaronic blessing (Numbers 6:22–27), they describe two dynamics: “amplification of joy” (God’s face shining upon us) and “returning to joy” (God turning toward us to bring peace), illustrated through par
136 The One Thing Your Soul Actually Wants
In this new episode, Geoff and Cyd explore joy as a crucial part of practicing Lent, making Lent worthwhile by creating space for a deeper connection with God. They begin with a gratitude practice, and then reflect on Hebrews 12:1–2 and “the joy set before Jesus" as he endured the cross. They link this to wilderness experiences and the concept of spiritual bypassing.Join 5000 others for the 3
135 Tested with Jesus (3): "Worship Me" and the Attack on Love
In this final Lent episode on Jesus’ temptations, Geoff and Cyd Holsclaw explore the third temptation as an attack on Jesus’ agency—shifting from anxiety-driven hyperactivation to independence-driven deactivation of attachment. They discuss how modern pressures like hustle culture, comparison, and radical self-reliance can pull people toward building “lesser kingdoms” instead of using their agency
134 Tested with Jesus (2): Attack on Faith and Falling from the Temple
The Attaching to God podcast continues a three-week Lenten series on the Temptations of Jesus.This episode reframes Jesus’ second temptation as an attack on his secure attachment to the Father—an attack on FAITH, provoking anxiety and testing whether God is really available. Geoff and Cyd talk about all the different reasons we develop “trust issues” and how they come out in our lives. They define
133 Tested with Jesus (1): Stones to Bread and the Attack on Hope
The Attaching to God podcast returns after a break to begin a three-week Lenten series on the Temptations of Jesus. Hosts Cyd and Geoff Holsclaw (co-founders of the Center for Embodied Faith) reframe Jesus’ first temptation as an attack on his secure attachment to the Father—an attack on hope. The hosts connect this to modern anxieties that push people into “protection mode,” explain Jesus’ script
132 Is Joy Even More Central Than Love? (Replay for Thanksgiving)
What is so important about joy? The great commandment is to love God and others, but is joy even more central than that? Where does joy fit in the landscape of political outrage and cynicism, in the seriousness of life today?We're talking about it. Looking at why joy and love are so connected.Join 5000 others for the 3rd Annual Attaching to God Summit, focused on Deepening Relationships. Regi
131 (Bonus) Spiritual Direction as Friendship (from the Kellia, with David Clayton)
In this BONUS episode (before season 8 starts), host Geoff Holsclaw starts experimenting with regular guest hosts to dive deeper into certain topics.This episode sees the return of David Clayton, a spiritual director, supervisor of spiritual directors, and a trained behavior analyst and facilitator of psychological safety. David will bring us the "voices from the Kellia"—the monastic &qu
130 (Bonus) Deeply Loved: Exploring Empathy and Spiritual Growth (with Bill & Kristi Gaultiere)
In this episode, hosts Geoff & Cyd Holsclaw talk with Bill and Kristi Gaultiere, founders of Soul Shepherding, and authors of Deeply Loved: Receiving and Reflecting God's Great Empathy for You. The conversation explores the Gaultiers' journey into psychology and ministry, their insights into empathy and emotional intelligence, and their focus on providing resources for emotional and
129 Why Spiritual Directors are Reading "Landscapes of the Soul"
In this special book launch episode, Geoff interviews Summer Joy Gross about why spiritual directors are reading and recommending Landscapes of the Soul: How the Science and Spirituality of Attachment Can Move You into Confident Faith, Courage, and Connection.This episode touches on the need to balance between intimacy and independence in spiritual life and the benefits of using attachment theory
128 Why Therapists Are Reading "Landscapes of the Soul" (with Monica Mouer, LPCS)
In this special book launch episode, Geoff interviews Monica Mauer about why therapists are reading Landscapes of the Soul, and how it can help their clients.Monica is a therapist, therapist supervisor, and founder of the Center for Family Transformation. Monica talks about the unique and very helpful terminology used in the book to describe the different attachment strategies, such as the JUNGLE,
127 Landscapes of the Soul: Chapters 1-2 (read by Cyd Holsclaw)
Here is an audio snippet of our new book. Description below. Please buy and review.______Does it feel like you experience life in a totally different way than others? Like you are living somewhere else, and you can’t build connection or intimacy with God like others can?There’s a good chance that you, like so many of us, have tried it all: read your Bible more, gone to church more, prayed more, an
126 Where it all started: The Shepherd Story (with Cyd Holsclaw)
In a sense, this is where all the attachment stuff started, with Cyd telling the "Shepherd Story" to our boys during bedtime. Over and over, year by year, she did this little guided meditation with them. She was doing attachment work with the Good Shepherd even before we had language for it. Many listeners and cohort members have asked for a recording of this prayer exercise, so here it
125 A Teachable Spirit Among Strangers and Enemies (with A.J. Swoboda)
Should Christians be teachable, and how can we discipline desire, that’s what we are talking about today, and stories learning to attach more deeply with God. In this episode of the Attaching to God podcast, host Geoff Holsclaw welcomes Dr. A.J. Swoboda to discuss the virtue of having a teachable spirit. The conversation explores the challenges of remaining teachable in a culture that often discou
124 Healing Love & Sacred Attachments: Between Trauma and Transformation (with Michael John Cusick)
What do you do when the gap between what you believe and what you experience feels insurmountable? Where do you turn when trauma leaves you feeling lost, ashamed, and exhausted, spinning spiritually, but still longing for a relationship with God?In this episode of the Attaching to God podcast, Geoff Holsclaw talks with Michael John Cusick about themes from his new book, discussing the disconnect b
123 Why We Gather: The Neuroscience Behind Corporate Worship (with Dr. Joshua Cockanye)
Is corporate worship just the transfer of information? Or to whip up our emotions into a frenzy? Or does corporate worship do something else?In this episode, host Geoff Holsclaw engages with Reverend Dr. Joshua Cockayne about corporate worship, joint attention in spiritual formation, and perspectives from developmental psychology, attachment theory, and neuroscience. This episode challenges the tr
122 Constructing Calm: A Guide for Families in a Fast-Paced World (with Sarah Boyd)
Have you felt overwhelmed and flattened by the sheer amount of noise and distraction in your home, your schedule, and your brain? In our fast-paced culture, is it possible to set up our families and children to thrive?In this episode of the Attaching to God podcast, host Geoff welcomes Sarah Boyd, writer, child development expert, and founder of Resilient Little Hearts. Sarah discusses her new bo
121 Evolving Narcissism, Attacks on Empathy, and Raising Up Resilient Churches (with Dr. Chuck DeGroat)
Is society producing more narcissists, or producing more people susceptible to abuse by narcissists? How has narcissism evolved in our internet age?In this episode, we explore the evolving nature of narcissism in the internet age and its impact on church communities. We discuss the shift from authority-based to algorithm-based influence, the rise of performative narcissism, and the attack on empat
120 The FISH Model: Beyond Modern Impasses to Spiritual and Emotional Health (with Dr. Marcus Warner)
What are the limitations of our modern approaches to discipleship and spiritual formation? How do our neural pathways connect to our spiritual pathways? Does brain-wiring connect to spiritual warfare? And how does this all connect to our identity in Christ?In this episode of the Attach To God podcast, host Geoff Holsclaw delves into the intersections of neuroscience and spiritual pathways with Dr.
119 Finding Miracles Between Doubt and Joy (with singer-songwriter Andy Squyres)
In this episode of the Attaching to God podcast, host Geoff Holsclaw chats with singer-songwriter and poet Andy Squyres about his faith journey, his time in Santa Cruz, and reconciling disappointment with hope. They discuss his creative process, dealing with grief and deconstruction, and the significance of embracing both doctrinal depth and authentic emotional experiences in faith.Andy Squyres is
118 Beyond Discipleship: The Future of Spiritual Formation (with Kyle Strobel)
What exactly is spiritual formation? Is it similar or different than discipleship? And who is having this conversation about spiritual formation anyway?In this episode of the Attaching to God podcast, hosted by Geoff Holsclaw and produced by Embodied Faith, the focus is on spiritual formation—what it is, how it compares to discipleship, and its future. Dr. Strobel shares his journey into this fiel
117 Finding Emotional Health While Helping Other: or, Healing Leadership Trauma (with Sheila and Nicholas Rowe)
In this episode of the Attaching to God podcast, we explore the often overlooked emotional struggles faced by leaders. Our guests are Nicholas and Sheila Wise Rowe. Nicholas Rowe is the Haslin Associate Professor of Leadership at Gordon Conwell Theological Seminary. And Sheila Wise Row is a seasoned counselor and author (and previous podcast guest). We talk about their new book, Healing Leadership
116 Neurodiversity and Attachment: Bridging the Gap (with Barbara Grant)
Does neurodiversity impact relational attachments? What does secure and insecure attachment look like for those who aren’t neurotypical?In this episode of the Attachment to God podcast, hosts Geoff and Cyd Holsclaw are joined by Barbara Grant, a specialist in autism and neurodiverse couples coaching. They talk about how neurodiversity impacts relational attachments and spiritual practices, particu
115 Anchored in Love: The Center of the Apostle Paul's Theology (with Dr. Nijay Gupta)
Scholars of the Apostle Paul have long debated the so-called center of Paul’s theology, focusing on themes like justification by faith, reconciliation, union with Christ, and the apocalyptic triumph of God in Christ. But what if love really is the heart of the gospel that he preached?In this episode of the Attaching to God podcast, we welcome Nijay Gupta, the Julius R. Manti Professor of New Testa
114 The Dynamics of Anxiety and Faith (with Steve Cuss)
In this episode of the Attaching to God podcast, hosts Geoff and Cyd Holsclaw welcome Steve Cuss. They delve into the nature of anxiety, different coping mechanisms, and how these dynamics affect relationships, including one's relationship with God. Steve highlights the importance of addressing reactivity, identifying false needs, and fostering supportive environments within leadership teams.
113 The Urgency of Grace: Finding Relief in a Worn-Out World (with David Zahl)
We are all looking for a bit of relief. Some pain relief, relief from stress, the relief of getting the kids off to school or maybe to bed on time. But do we think of God’s grace as the big relief?In this episode, we welcome back David Zahl, of Mockingbird Ministries. David introduces his new book titled The Big Relief: The Urgency of Grace for a Worn-Out World, which focuses on how God's gra
112 Courage to Commit: Why Embracing Religion Still Matters (with Ross Douthat)
Host Geoff Holsclaw engages with New York Times columnist and author Ross Douthat. They discuss the enduring relevance and shifting perceptions of religion in a scientific and secular age, driven by Douthat’s book Believe: Why Everyone Should Be Religious. The conversation navigates the historical impact of new atheism, the existential malaise in youth culture, and a generational gap in religious
111 Healing Power of Story: Making Sense of Your Life (with Adam Young)
Sometimes, when you feel stuck, and overwhelmed, you don’t need more and better information. Sometimes you need to engage your story, to better understand how the past influences the present. That's what we talk about with Adam Young. Adam Young is a therapist who focuses on trauma and abuse, and the host of The Place We Find Ourselves podcast. He currently serves as a Fellow and Instructor a
110 Armoring Up, Anxiety, and Finding the Right-Sized God (with Lisa Cuss)
In this episode of the Attaching to God podcast, hosted by Geoff and Cyd Holsclaw of Embodied Faith, licensed therapist Lisa Cuss joins the conversation.Lisa shares her journey from teaching to becoming a therapist, her focus on trauma and attachment-informed modalities, and her work with Capable Life alongside her husband, Steve Cuss. The discussion delves into the complexities of anxiety, perso
109 The Sermon on the Mount and Human Flourishing (with Jonathan Pennington)
What is Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount really about? Is it an out-of-reach spirituality for the really devoted? Is it a practical guide for political action? A reworking of the Old Testament Law? Or an existential treatise on the intentions that guide our actions?What if it outlines the way toward human flourishing?Dr. Jonathan Pennington is a Professor of New Testament Interpretation at Southern Se
108 Expressing the Inexpressible: "Hesed" and God's Lovingkindness (with Michael Card)
God’s true nature is beyond human comprehension. It can never be fully expressed in human words. But Scriptures uses one particular word to describe the distinctiveness of God’s character; this is the Hebrew word hesed. Michael Card is an award-winning musician and performing artist. His many books include Scribbling in the Sand, A Fragile Stone, and Inexpressible: Hesed and the Mystery of God&apo
107 The Way of Sorrows as a New Evangelism (for Easter Week) (with Andrew Root)
This Holy Week, as Jesus, "the man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief" (Is. 53:3), walks toward the cross, we ask what it might be to proclaim this as good news. An older evangelism might ask, Where will you go when you die? But in our age of anxiety and despair, maybe we need to shift to: What do you do with your sorrow as you live? That Jesus walks with us in our sorrows is really
106 Digital Overwhelm in the Workplace (with Craig Mattson)
Does doing your job need to feel like losing your life? Can your vocation be part of your spiritual formation? Can we survive digital overwhelm?Dr. Craig Mattson is a researcher, teacher, and writer at Calvin University. He’s the editor of The Mode/Switch newsletter and podcast on Substack, both of which decode workplace culture and the strange etiquettes of digital spaces. Craig’s three books add
105 Psychedelics and Jesus: What Makes Everything OK? (with Ashley Lande)
Many spiritual seekers are becoming psychonauts, experimenting with psychedelics. But will that trip lead where we think it will? I had the pleasure of sitting down with Ashley Lande about how her long and winding journey in and their the world of psychedelic experimentation eventually led her to Jesus, the only one who really makes all things OK. Ashley Lande is a writer and artist living in rura
104 Can We Master Our Emotions? Should We? (with Dr. Kevin Chapman)
Can we master our emotions? Is that healthy? Are emotions a gift from God, or part of our sinful reality? That’s what we are talking about today. Dr. Kevin Chapman is a licensed clinical psychologist with a specialty in cognitive behavioral therapy. He is the founder and director of the Kentucky Center for Anxiety and Related Disorders. He leads Sound Mind Ministries and hosts The Sound Mind Show
(Bonus) 10 Reasons Baseball is Spiritual Formation (with J.R. Briggs)
Baseball is back. Spring is sprung (depending on where you live). And so we are bringing you the 10 reasons baseball is a mirror for our spiritual formation. And along the way, Geoff and J.R. Briggs share some favorite baseball memories, especially about their first time hanging out in the bleachers at Wigley Field.Here are the reasons, in no particular order:Going HomeAll about FailuresIt's
103 Take What You Need: Soft Words for Hard Days (with Aundi Kolber)
For when the day is long. When you are afraid. When you don’t know what to say to someone you love. When you feel alone. When you’re questioning everything. When you wonder if God is with you.We are talking with the author ofTry Softer, Aundi Kolber, about her new book, Take What You Need: Soft Words for Hard Days. Aundi Kolber is a licensed professional counselor (MA, LPC) and best-selling author
102 Redescribing Depression: The antifeeling that is more than sadness (with Dr. John Swinton)
Is depression a biological and chemical problem? Is it a mental and emotional, or relational problem? Is depression spiritual in nature? As our guest today says, how we describe something is how we see it, and how we see it changes how we respond and act towards it. Dr. John Swinton is Professor in Practical Theology and Pastoral Care and Chair in Divinity and Religious Studies at the University
101 Forming Leaders and Ministers: Depth, Character, and Spiritual Direction (David Clayton)
Leaders, pastors, and pioneers of movements are often outward and forward-focused. Often this means leaving the inward life unexplored and ignored. How can leaders tend to the depths within, and how might spiritual directors help in this work? How best can we support and form clergy and leaders? David Clayton is a qualified and experienced Spiritual Director, Supervisor, and Behavioural Analyst. W
100 Attaching to God in the Wild (guest Jeff McMullen)
What does attaching to God look like in one's personal life, life as a counselor, and life of faith? That's what we are talking about today. Our guest is Jeff (spelling?) McMullen. Jeff is the Executive Director of Life Counseling Center and an Assistant Pastor at Chapelgate Presbyterian Church. As a counselor, he is particularly interested in working with ministry clients struggling wit
099 Reframing Mental Health: From Fixing a Machine to Fellow Wayfarers (with Dr. Warren Kinghorn)
While modern psychiatry has improved many patients’ quality of life, it falls short in addressing their relational and spiritual needs? Can we draw on theological wisdom and scientific evidence to reframe our understanding of mental health care? Dr. Warren Kinghorn is a psychiatrist and theological ethicist whose work centers on the role of religious communities in caring for persons with mental h
098 Freedom and Acceptance (Pt. 2)
"Freedom appears very nearly the only value about which people still agree unanimously," says Jacques Philippe in his little book, Interior Freedom. But how does freedom connect to happiness, love, and our life with God and others? These are the questions this little firecracker of a book examines, and that we talk about in this two-part series. We look at the difference between "fr
097 Confessions of an Amateur Saint (with Mandy Smith)
Instead of pretending to have it all together or insisting that you’re the problem, do you long to see more Christian leaders be honest about their own faith struggles? What benefit could there be to having a front-row seat to the moments that leaders choose to trust in God, even when it’s hard to believe?Today we have Mandy Smith, pastor and award-winning author and speaker—and also a great frien
096 The Shape of Joy (with Richard Beck)
In a world where mental health issues and loneliness are at an all-time high, it’s more important than ever to find ways to cultivate joy, community, and meaning in our lives. But how exactly do you do that? Maybe we need to turn outward rather than inward for answers.That's what we are talking about with Dr. Richard Beck.Dr. Richard Beck is a professor of psychology at Abilene Christian Univ
095 Healing What's Within (with Dr. Chuck DeGroat)
Like many of us, you carry a weight of buried pain. You feel secretly fractured within. There’s a constant churn of unprocessed feelings of shame, anger, grief, or loneliness. But it doesn’t have to be this way. Chuck DeGroat is the Professor of Counseling and Christian Spirituality and Executive Director of the Clinical Mental Health Counseling Program at Western Theological Seminary Holland MI.
094 Strange Religion and the First Believers (with Nijay Gupta)
The first Christians were weird. Just how weird is often lost on us today. The first Christians believed unusual things, worshiped God in strange ways, and lived a unique lifestyle. Many in the ancient world saw it as bizarre, even dangerous, but some found this new religion attractive and compellingToday we are interviewing Dr. Nijay K. Gupta. He is the Julius R. Mantey Professor of New Testament
093 Why You Haven't Given Up on the Soul If Speaking About the Brain (Jim Wilder)
Everyone is talking about slowing down, slow food, a slow life. I have friends who host the “Slow Theology” podcast. But is going slow the best to understand the SOUL? (What does that even mean?)Recently, people like Jim Wilder have been specifically accused to talking too much about the brain, and not even about the soul. So much so that some believe Jim doesn't even believe in the soul.(And
092 Freedom and Acceptance (Pt. 1)
"Freedom appears very nearly the only value about which people still agree unanimously," says Jacques Philippe in his little book, Interior Freedom. But how does freedom connect to happiness, love, and our life with God and others? These are the questions this little firecracker of a book examines, and that we talk about in this two-part series. We look at the difference between "fr
091 How A Psychologist Came to Believe in Miracles…and More (Book Conversation)
Geoff and Cyd talk about the impact of reading Why I Believe: A Psychologist's Thoughts on Suffering, Miracles, Science, and Faith, by Dr. Henry Cloud, specifically...the place of miracles and healing in mental health concerns, how encountering God often precedes evidence for God,and, the power of open systems and God at work in the world. From the book's blurb: "World-renowned psyc
090 Risky Play, Fun, and the Life of Faith
Why do kids climb trees, run really fast, and spin until they fall over? What is the benefit of risky play? And what does that have to do with attaching to God and our spiritual life?In this episode, we look at the research regarding play and how it connects to attaching to God.Baggage Claim: Don't miss the new segment where we finish by claiming some overproductive tendencies we share. Reso
089: Our Attachment Wounds and God's Promise (with Summer Joy Gross)
Emmanuel—God with us. We have heard this promise of God’s presence. But might our attachment wounds skew, distort, or hinder us from embracing this reality? Do we live as slaves to our attachment strategies rather than as beloved children of God? And how can we learn to do something different in our spiritual lives?Summer Joy Gross is an Anglican priest, retreat leader, and spiritual director whos
088: Don't Do Nothing about Mental Health in the Church
There is an innate need in all of us to know that there is something more beautiful than the dark places of the world we live in. After two losses within their community just prior to the 2020 pandemic, St. Andrew Methodist Church in Plano, TX discerned that God was asking them to go on the offense against the darkness of mental illness.This is the story of Beacon of Light, a ministry providing mu
087: Geoff's Second Half of Life "Crisis" and why the new name
The inaugural episode of season six, and all about "Geoff's Second Half of Life 'Crisis' and why we renamed the podcast" (and note, 'crisis' is in scar quotes).Welcome to Season 6, of what is now called the Attaching to God podcast. We are going to be doing more episodes of just the two of us talking (Cyd and Geoff). But we will also have interviews with people,
086: Non-Toxic Masculinity (with Zachary Wagner)
The problem of toxic masculinity is much bigger than contemporary expressions of Christianity. Mistreatment of women and men dehumanizing others is a feature of human culture fraught with sin. But the church is called to be salt and light, so how can we foster a non-toxic masculinity?Our guest today is Zachary Wagner, a writer, researcher, and minister. He serves as the editorial director for the
085: Forming Spiritually Resilient Children (with Dr. Holly Allen)
Many children today are growing up amid adversity, whether brought on by family difficulties or larger societal crises. All children need to be able to deal with stress, cope with challenges, and persevere through disappointments. While we cannot protect children from all hardships, we can promote healthy development that fosters resilience.Our guest, Dr. Holly Catterton Allen, recently retired fr
084: Mental Illness or Spiritual Issue? And how they connect (with Dr. Matthew Stanford)
Research tells us that when people suffer from a mental health crisis, the first person they turn to for help is not a physician, a psychiatrist, or a social worker, but a pastor, a priest, or a minister. Unfortunately, many church leaders are not trained to recognize mental illness and don’t know when to refer someone to a mental health professional. And how do we know the difference between a me
083: Does God Hate? Or, Making Sense of God's Emotions (with David Lamb)
Does God hate? Is God emotional? Emotions feel irrational, impulsive, and problematic for God, especially when we think about hate, jealousy, or sorrow. But the truth is the Bible is full of all sorts of stories that express God expressing emotions. This episode focuses particularly on God and the emotion of hate.Our guest is Dr. David Lamb. He is the MacRae Professor of Old Testament and in 2017
082: On Getting Out of Bed; Or, on Living with Mental Anguish (with Alan Noble)
For many people, sorrow, despair, anxiety, and mental illness are everyday experiences. And while we have tremendous advancements in therapy and psychiatry, the burden of living often comes down to some mundane choices, like "Should I still bother to get out of bed?"Dr. Alan Noble joins us to talk about life with mental anguish and his book, On Getting Out of Bed: The Burden and Gift of
081: From Therapy, to Trauma, to Attaching to Immanuel (God With Us) with Stephanie Rossing
How do we help people get their brains back online? Can the Spirit lead us through a process of healing without triggering re-traumatization? And how can we attach more deeply with God?Guest Stephanie Rossing (Licenced Marriage and Family Therapist) talks about her own journey as a therapist, discovering and receiving training in trauma treatments (EMDR and Dialectical Behavior Therapy), and how s
Is Joy Even More Central Than Love? (Thanksgiving Double Feature)
(This and the previous episode are part of a special Thanksgiving Double Feature Rewind of past episodes that are good to revisit in the ups and downs of a holiday)What is so important about joy? The great commandment is to love God and others, but is joy even more central than that? Where does joy fit in the landscape of political outrage and cynicism, in the seriousness of life today?We're
The Psalms as a Guide to Joy, Sadness, and Anger (Thanksgiving Double Feature)
(This and the next episode are part of a special Thanksgiving Double Feature Rewind of past episodes that are good to revisit in the ups and downs of a holiday)What if the Psalms aren't just old religious poetry, but guideposts for our everyday struggles and wounds? What if the Psalms are a pathway into the presence of God through the all too human emotions of joy, sadness, and even anger?Joi
080: Finding Freedom in Constraint—Reimagining Spiritual Disciplines with Jared Patrick Boyd
We often think that freedom comes through casting off what controls us, and that we need to find our true selves apart from community. But what if it is the constraints of the spiritual life that set us free? What if it is focused practices in community that lead to the flourishing of individual lives? Today we are talking about finding freedom in constraints. Our guest today is Jared Patrick Boy
079: Being the Church in an Age of Secular Mysticisms (Dr. Andrew Root)
When atheists want spirituality, how should the church respond? In a secular age offering a buffet of spiritualities, all focused on the self and personal transformation, how is the Christian view similar or different than these alternative pathways? When everyone is spiritual, but few are religious, what is distinctive about following Jesus? And can I be a mystic without God?Dr. Andrew Root joins
078: Formative Spirituality, Agency in the Bible, and Being Human (Dr. Richard Middleton)
What is spiritual formation? Is that even a very good term for life with and in Jesus? What are we being formed into anyway? Or, maybe we should ask “when” are we being formed?In this episode, we talked with Dr. Richard Middleton about formative spirituality, agency in the Bible, and being human, and how God is always looking for partners to work with and through. Dr. Middleton is Professor of Bib
077: Why Humility and Hope is Essential for Therapists & Pastors (Dr. Chuck DeGroat)
What character formation is required for soul care professionals, people like therapists, pastors, or spiritual directors? And what does this mean for everyone who follows Jesus? It is humility and hope, says Dr. Chuck DeGroat. It is doing your work, the work on yourself. Today we talk about how so often (like pastors) therapists in training receive little character formation even while they recei
076: Bearing God in the Storms of Death and Life (with Marlena Graves)
Have you ever been tossed around by the storms of life and wondered where God is in all? Or have you wished Jesus would quiet the storms a little quicker and more often? Today we are talking about bearing God in the storms of life. Marlena Graves is the Assistant Professor of Spiritual Formation at Northeastern Seminary in Rochester, NY. She has written five books, most recently Bearing God: Livin
075: Being Still Amid the Distractions and Downtime (with Brian Heasley)
Scripture tells us, “Be still and know that I am God”. But for so many of us, this is so hard. Today’s episode explores downtime, devotions, and distractions as we seek to be with God in our private and public lives. Our guest, Brian Heasley, is a long-term pioneer within the 24-7 prayer movement and serves as the International Prayer Director, he has years of experience in local-church and pion
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