No Longer Nomads Ep 55 - Why The Body Teaches the Soul with Justin Whitmel Earley
When your body breaks down, can your faith hold up? In this episode of No Longer Nomads, host Josh Doyle talks with bestselling author and lawyer Justin Whitmel Earley to unpack his new book The Body Teaches the Soul.
Justin opens up about his mental-health collapse in his 30s — despite a dream job, a loving wife, and two kids — and how rediscovering the connection between physical rhythms and spiritual health changed his life. Together, they explore how habits like sleep, breathing, eating, and rest impact our spiritual formation and everyday relationship with God.
If you’ve ever wrestled with anxiety, burnout, or the disconnect between what you believe and how you live, this conversation will give you practical hope, theology, and tools for renewal.
🎧 Topics Covered:
- The surprising connection between body and spirit
- Why physical habits shape spiritual formation
- How fasting, feasting, and rest restore balance
- Simple ways to calm anxiety and find peace
- Biblical insights on embodiment and discipleship
📘 Order Justin’s book: https://a.co/d/e29cYBC
📅 New episodes every Tuesday at 5 a.m.
#NoLongerNomads #JustinWhitmelEarley #SpiritualFormation #FaithAndHabits #ChristianPodcast
⏱ Chapter Markers
00:00 – Opening narration: Justin’s collapse and insomnia
00:40 – Why our head and habits don’t always align
01:00 – Welcome to No Longer Nomads intro
01:38 – Introducing Justin Whitmel Earley and The Body Teaches the Soul
03:07 – Justin’s background: lawyer, father, writer, and habits expert
04:10 – Discovering the importance of embodiment and physical rhythms
05:06 – The turning point: collapse and the cost of ignoring the body
07:20 – Why the body matters for spiritual life
08:39 – Practicing new habits that changed everything
09:23 – Overview of the book’s 10 essential habits
10:05 – The breaking point: panic, exhaustion, and confusion
15:36 – The accountability moment that started change
17:13 – Early signs of renewal through daily rhythms
19:22 – “I’m not good at habits”
Thanks for listening. Have a guest suggestion? Reach out at nolongernomads.co