Dr. Henry Cloud is back, and this week, he and I will unpack why he hates the term "self-help" and why structure in life drives our performance. See, our brains are wired to form habits, which are automatic, unconscious behaviors that are triggered by specific cues. Structure can help us establish positive habits and routines, which can improve our performance over time. We're also going to discuss why, in the journey of transformation, things often get worse before they get better and how tears drain trauma from our neurophysiology. Crying is often accompanied by a release of hormones, including cortisol, which is often associated with stress. The release of cortisol can help to reduce stress levels, promoting a sense of calm and relaxation.
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It's episode 408 of the podcast, and today, Christy Osborne joins us to talk about addiction, specifically, how addiction forms us, why shame intercepts self-compassion, and the science of why alcohol isn't worth the use.
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It's episode 407 of the podcast, and this week, I'm excited to welcome back my friend, professional counselor Debra Fileta. In our fast-paced culture plagued with burnout, stress, and chronic fatigue, we often find that we’re functioning out of emptiness. What would it be like to experience fulfillment in our lives that was both lasting and regenerative? Well this week, Debra and I discuss self-neglect, why burnout is so prevalent, and the difference between self-care and soul care.
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This week, I'm excited to welcome back one of my closest friends, Hannah Brencher, to discuss why you can't manage what you can't measure and why we've swapped personal availability for being accessible all the time. We're also going to unpack the tactical side of breaking up well, why multitasking is inefficient, and why the private issues of our hearts are not pieces of content that must be published widely. This is, by far, not only the longest episode I've ever recorded, but I'd also like to suggest, one of the most vulnerable and thoughtful episodes. Hannah is a gift to all who know her, and if you're unfamiliar with her, I trust today's conversation will be a great introduction to an incredible person you're going to want to follow and learn from.
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I'm so glad to have Carlos Whittaker with us this week. A lot of people are languishing in their souls these days. Between the state of the economy, strain in relationships, lack of trust in leaders, and the landscape of our political scene, I've heard it said by many, "I just feel flat." Today, we're talking about overcoming dullness in our souls and how to let go of false responsibilities. We're also going to unpack Carlos's 7-week experiment of going completely screen-free, and, what the brain scans revealed both before and after the seven weeks.
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It's episode 404 of the podcast, and I'm thrilled to welcome my friend Graham Cochrane to the show. Graham is a successful entrepreneur, TEDx and keynote speaker, and bestselling author. His insights have been regularly featured in national media outlets like Forbes, CNBC, and Business Insider. And today, he's with us to discuss breaking scarcity thinking and what shame tells us in loss. We'll also unpack the question a lot of us face: How do we discern seasons of life? Graham and I also discuss minimalism and why we don't typically navigate disappointment well. It's a wide-reaching conversation, and I'm thrilled that you're here for it.
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If you grew up in the 90's, and watched TGIF every Friday night, I think you're going to love today's episode. Christine Lakin joins us today. Best known to us as Al Lambert from Step by Step, my conversation with Christine is anything but on the surface. It's intelligent, encouraging, and really challenging, as we discuss the value of repetition when no one else is watching and why embracing slow and steady development is the key to growth in life. Of course, we do have fun today, because, for many of you, she was your first TV crush. So, we get under the hood of what it was like to play Al on Step by Step and so much more.
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Preston Perry joins us today and we're taking a deep dive into relearning emotional safety after trauma, why grief is a gift to receive, how therapy has become trendy (but not automatically effective), and why suffering purifies and strengthens us. Preston has such a unique take on life. Growing up, the streets of Chicago were his home, and it was there that he encountered all sorts of people who had their own versions of the truth. That's where Preston discovered not only the importance of the truth but how to tell the truth in a way that speaks to someone’s heart and leads them to freedom and transformation.
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Google's first Chief Innovation Evangelist, Frederik Pferdt joins us to discuss the cost of resisting change. One of the guiding principles for life is that change is not the exception, it's the rule. So, therein is an opportunity to grow in our willingness to move with it, not against it. To that, we're going to talk about why every experience in life leads to learning, if we have a growth mindset. We're also diving into how to live future-ready and why radical optimism has nothing to do with toxic positivity. And so, according to our guest today, we don’t have to be afraid of what the future holds. Rather than bracing for what happens next, Dr. Frederik Pferdt argues that you can make what happens next.
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This week, we're celebrating episode 400 of the podcast. I'm thrilled you're here, and today, NYU Professor, TED Speaker Dr. Tessa West joins us to discuss the hidden symptoms of burnout and how to know when it's time to make a major change in life. I talk to more people whose lives are right here. They're burned out and wondering if it's time to make a change. Add to that, we're going to take a look at the myth of work-life balance. We're also going to talk about how to hurdle social awkwardness and why the modern dating scene is a dumpster fire.
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Are you ready to break free from negative thought patterns and experience a profound transformation? In this solo episode, we dive deep into the practical steps to renewing your mind. Discover the powerful SEED method, inspired by Scripture and neuroscience, that can revolutionize your life. Learn why consistent mental renewal is as essential as daily hygiene and how to overcome the deceptive nature of your thoughts. Get ready to embark on a journey of personal growth and spiritual transformation as we explore the power of a renewed mind.
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This week, I want to spend some time teaching from my book Healing What You Can't Erase. Last week, I taught you how to fight lies and strengthen yourself in the Lord whenever you face adversity. And two weeks ago, I taught you how to build resilience. But this week, I want to hone in on the central reason why we lose our inner drive and our courage to keep going when the fires of trial are blazing. And that reason is what Scripture describes as "the broken, crushed spirit."
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Feeling lost in doubt and fear? This week’s episode explores Psalm 42, a raw prayer from the Bible where the Psalmist wrestles with despair. We'll delve into scripture to understand why our perspective gets cloudy during challenges, and discover practical ways to refocus on God's faithfulness. Learn how remembering His past victories fuels present hope, and gain biblical insights on renewing your resilience with the Lord's strength. Perfect for anyone facing difficulties and seeking encouragement from scripture.
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My solo series for summer break begins this week. In this episode, we're talking about building a growth mindset for unbreakable resilience. The world needs more resilient individuals – people who can face challenges with courage, overcome adversity with grace, and build a better future for themselves and those around them. By internalizing the lessons of Joseph’s story, we can all embrace the power of resilience and embark on a journey of growth and transformation. Let Joseph’s unwavering faith, unwavering spirit, and unwavering commitment to forgiveness inspire us all.
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Too many of us are apathetic, busy, languishing, overwhelmed, distracted, and fearful. We're afraid of disappointing people. We struggle with people-pleasing. We work in a frenetic, unfocused manner. And so today, I want to talk about what I believe is a counter-tactic: living a focused, consecrated life. This week, I sit down with one of my key leaders, Dave, whom you met in chapter 6 of my book and also here on the podcast in late March. This is an important conversation for the day and hour we live. If you're burnt out, distracted, and fearful, we want to give you a roadmap back to focus and back to life.
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Bethel Music's Josh Baldwin joins us to talk about leaving and grieving seasons of life and reshaping our expectations for real peace. This is so important because peace isn't the absence of conflict. Josh and I will unpack this idea with you today. We're also going to talk about how anxiety affects relationships, and how it affected Josh and his wife's marriage, as well as the supreme value of worship in shaping our emotional health.
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Lee Cummings is back and this week, we're talking about why self-deception is the worst kind of deception, why fear is a vacuum to suffocate our potential, and why facts and truth aren't the same thing. You see, the greatest challenge you and I face, according to Lee, is staying awake in this present cultural moment of chaos. And so if the enemy can’t lull you into spiritual apathy, deception is often his weapon of choice against you. And if he can deceive you, he can keep you from living out your purpose—God’s purpose for your life.
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This week, Willie Robertson joins us, and we're going to unpack the backstory of Duck Dynasty and how he learned how to flourish in every decade of life, especially in the face of adversity. Many of you might be exhausted in life right now, and you might think that you have nothing left in the tank, especially if you've experienced a measure of failure. Willie is going to shed light on that specifically and offer some really helpful advice. We're also going to discuss why we need to develop agility in a constantly changing world (and how to do it).
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This week, writing coach and author Ally Fallon is back to talk about the transformative, scientific, healing power of writing, specifically, writing about your life experiences. Here's why: writing aids in organizing thoughts and emotions, which can help manage the distress from traumatic events. In many ways, this exercise is based upon the work of Dr. James Pennebaker, and requires nothing more than a pen, and paper, and between 15-30 minutes each day. Its efficacy is backed by over 200 peer-reviewed studies. And if you're like me, eager to move forward and experience transformation in life, it is a powerful tool to employ. We're also going to talk about the pain of resistance and how writing aided her healing of an autoimmune disease.
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One of my favorite guests is back this week, and that's Jon Tyson. Today, we're talking about breaking the hold of apathy over your life, navigating through a crisis of personal meaning, what it takes to be formed in private, and the joyful pursuit of sacrificial responsibility in an age of narcissism and self-obsession.
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Grammy-winning singer/songwriter Tasha Cobbs Leonard is here this week. Today, we're talking about unmasking the root of rejection, and freedom from self-hatred (a consistent theme for so many people I coach). A huge theme of the conversation centered around living a planted life, and then we talked about grieving with hope.
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Dr. Alison Cook is back on the podcast this week and let me tell you right now, she brought it. We're talking about the lifetime journey of healing, what stops guilt from turning into shame, why surrender positions us for wisdom, and how to emotionally attune to the people in our lives. One of my favorite parts of the conversation is when Alison took us down the road of talking about whole-body compassion. This is part and parcel of transformation, so I'm confident this conversation will add tremendous value to your life.
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All of us have experienced varying degrees of loss, betrayal, and heartbreak throughout life. And as such, I feel it necessary to double down on that topic. So today, Steve Carter joins us to discuss why forgiveness is a solo sport, the horrible positive spins we too often slap on tragedy, how we waste waiting seasons in life, and how to better-understand the trauma involved in betrayal.
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Joining us today is law professor and author John Inazu. We will unpack the deeper reasons why people don't trust mainstream media, government, and sadly, even many pastors. We're also going to discuss a common cultural lean toward anti-intellectualism, and the influence of AI and deep fakes upon our psyches which directly affect our mental and emotional health. And in an election year, we're going to take time to learn communication strategies to disagree with others more effectively...and respectively. All of these topics have an influence on our mental and emotional health, and that's why I brought John to the show.
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Joining us today is John Burke, author of "Imagine Heaven.” We're going to discuss near-death experiences, including one profound story of a Hindu man who met the Lord. We will also unpack the consistent order of common events in near-death experiences, the impact of free will on eternal destination, and a skeptic's take on NDEs. This is such a fascinating, inspiring conversation, and I trust you'll walk away from it intrigued and encouraged.
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