

Unhurried Living | Helping Christians Rest Deeper & Lead Better
Alan and Gem Fadling
Many of us feel hurried, and hurry is costing us more than we realize. The Unhurried Living Podcast with Alan and Gem Fadling provides resources and training to help Christian leaders learn to live and lead from fullness rather than on empty. Great influence begins on the inside, in your soul. Learning healthy patterns of rest and work can transform your life—your daily influence. Built on more than twenty-five years of experience at the intersection of spiritual formation and leadership development, Unhurried Living seeks to inspire people around the world to rest deeper so they can live fuller and lead better.
If this podcast helps you be an unhurried leader, be sure to check out our website https://www.unhurriedliving.com/, where we have books, resources, and featured membership communities so you can learn with fellow leaders how to lead from abundance instead of lack.
If this podcast helps you be an unhurried leader, be sure to check out our website https://www.unhurriedliving.com/, where we have books, resources, and featured membership communities so you can learn with fellow leaders how to lead from abundance instead of lack.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Oct 27, 2025 • 9min
Exposing the Lies We Live By: Finding Identity Beyond Advertising
 Every day, we are bombarded with thousands of messages promising happiness, comfort, or even identity if only we buy the right product. But beneath the noise of advertising lies a deeper reality: we are already loved, already chosen, already whole in Christ. In this episode, Gem Fadling shines a light on how consumer slogans shape our sense of self and offers a way back to the truth of God’s word.  This conversation explores the difference between the “false self” and the “true self,” and invites us to embrace the pace of grace rather than the rush of consumption.  Listen in to learn:   How advertising shapes our view of identity and worth  The difference between the “imposter self” and the “true self”  How scripture re-anchors us in God’s love and presence   ______________________________________________________ Connect with Gem on Instagram and learn more on the Unhurried Living website and her new book, Hold That Thought: Sorting Through the Voices in Our Heads Learn about PACE: Certificate in Leadership and Soul Care  Discover more Christian podcasts at  lifeaudio.com     and inquire about advertising opportunities at     lifeaudio.com/contact-us.   

Oct 20, 2025 • 15min
Fresh Springs for a Busy Life
 Where do you turn when your soul feels thirsty? In this episode of the Unhurried Living Podcast, Alan Fadling reflects on Psalm 87:7, “All my fresh springs are in You.” We explore how God alone is our true source of renewal, even when we’re tempted to drink from counterfeit springs like busyness, control, or distraction. Drawing on the imagery of living water and daily bread, Alan shares how this one line of scripture can become a simple, grounding prayer to carry through your day. Discover how God’s presence can be a hidden well of strength in your work, relationships, and everyday life. If you’ve ever felt spiritually dry, restless, or weary, this conversation will help you return to the fresh, unending stream of God’s life in you. What you’ll learn:  Why Psalm 87:7 offers such a powerful picture of spiritual renewal• How to recognize “counterfeit springs” that leave us empty• Practical ways to carry scripture into the ordinary moments of your day• How prayer, silence, and Sabbath help us drink deeply from God’s presence  Listen in and discover how God can be your fresh spring of life, energy, and joy.    Connect with Alan on LinkedIn or learn more about Unhurried Living programs on their website.  Learn about PACE: Certificate in Leadership and Soul Care  Discover more Christian podcasts at  lifeaudio.com     and inquire about advertising opportunities at     lifeaudio.com/contact-us.   

Oct 13, 2025 • 43min
The Heart of True Hospitality (Laura Murray)
 Hospitality is more than setting a table or opening your home. It’s a posture of the heart—a way of seeing and responding to the people God places in your path. True hospitality flows from God’s generous welcome to us and creates spaces of belonging wherever we go. In this episode of the Unhurried Living Podcast, Gem Fadling talks with Laura Murray, author of Becoming a Person of Welcome, about moving from performance-based hosting to a transformed life of welcome. Drawing from her Armenian heritage, years in church leadership, and a rich theology of God’s hospitality, Laura offers practical steps for cultivating authentic connection, listening deeply, setting healthy boundaries, and leading others into a lifestyle of welcome. Whether you’re a ministry leader, a community builder, or simply someone longing for relationships rooted in grace, this conversation will inspire you to carry God’s presence into everyday moments. Listen in to learn:  Why hospitality is a posture, not a program How to reflect God’s welcome in daily life Ways to create authentic belonging without performance pressure Spiritual practices that shape a hospitable heart  Connect with Laura Murray:  Website: www.digitalsilentretreats.com Book: Becoming a Person of Welcome  ______________________________________________________ Connect with Gem on Instagram and learn more on the Unhurried Living website and her new book, Hold That Thought: Sorting Through the Voices in Our Heads Learn about PACE: Certificate in Leadership and Soul Care  Discover more Christian podcasts at  lifeaudio.com     and inquire about advertising opportunities at     lifeaudio.com/contact-us.   

Oct 6, 2025 • 50min
Rest is More Than a Day Off (Travis West)
 What if rest isn’t a luxury—but essential to your calling? In this episode of the Unhurried Living Podcast, Alan Fadling talks with Travis West, author of The Sabbath Way, about how Sabbath can renew leaders from the inside out. Far from being just a “day off,” Sabbath is a way of living that restores joy, deepens trust in God, and sustains our calling in a productivity-driven culture.   We’ll explore why Sabbath is a quiet but powerful form of leadership, how it reshapes our relationship with time, and why it’s key to resisting burnout. Whether you’re a pastor, ministry leader, or simply longing for a more unhurried pace with God, this conversation will inspire you to let grace set the pace. In this episode:  Why Sabbath is more than a day of rest How Sabbath restores joy, gratitude, and delight The dangers of “false rest” and how to avoid them Moving from urgency to abundance in leadership Practical steps to start a Sabbath rhythm this week  For more help in practicing the Sabbath, visit Travis West’s website for a free resource at https://www.travis-west.com/practices.    Connect with Alan on LinkedIn or learn more about Unhurried Living programs on their website.  Learn about PACE: Certificate in Leadership and Soul Care  Discover more Christian podcasts at  lifeaudio.com     and inquire about advertising opportunities at     lifeaudio.com/contact-us.   

Sep 29, 2025 • 57min
Abide and Flourish: Breaking Free from the Productivity Trap (Bette Dickinson)
 For many of us, faith has been shaped by pressure to perform and produce. But in John 15, Jesus gives us another way: abiding in the True Vine. In this episode, Gem Fadling sits down with artist and author Bette Dickinson to explore how God as the loving Vinedresser leads us not toward exhaustion, but toward flourishing. If you’ve felt weighed down by striving or longed for a slower, more organic spirituality, this conversation will help you rediscover a rooted, fruitful faith.   In This Episode, You’ll Learn:   Why God’s primary concern isn’t productivity but flourishing   The difference between an industrial approach to faith and an organic one   How natural seasons reflect Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection   The meaning of abiding as our place of belonging and identity in Christ   How to trust fruit will emerge over time without forced busyness     Resources & References Mentioned:  The Art of Vinemaking: Flourishing in a Productivity-Driven Culture  Making Room in Advent by Bette Dickinson   John 15: The Vine and the Branches   About Today’s Guest – Bette DickinsonBette Dickinson is a prophetic artist, author, and contemplative guide. Through her writing, artwork, and teaching, she invites others to encounter God’s presence in embodied and imaginative ways. She is the author of The Art of Vinemaking and  Making Room in Advent: 25 Devotions for a Season of Wonder. ______________________________________________________ Connect with Gem on Instagram and learn more on the Unhurried Living website and her new book, Hold That Thought: Sorting Through the Voices in Our Heads Learn about PACE: Certificate in Leadership and Soul Care  Discover more Christian podcasts at  lifeaudio.com     and inquire about advertising opportunities at     lifeaudio.com/contact-us.   

Sep 22, 2025 • 20min
The False Vine of Workaholism
 In this episode of the Unhurried Living Podcast, we explore the difference between work that flows from grace and love, and work that drains us because it’s fueled by fear, insecurity, or people-pleasing. Together we’ll talk about holy rhythms of work and rest, and what it looks like to return to the “easy yoke” of Jesus. If you’ve been feeling weary, overextended, or caught in workaholism, this conversation offers hope: you can lead from rest rather than rush. What You’ll Take Away from This Episode:   How to discern between grace-energized work and soul-draining drivenness.   Why busyness, according to Eugene Peterson, is not productivity but a form of laziness.   The danger of “false vines” that drain life rather than nourish it.   Small, sustainable practices for weaving sabbath and reflection into daily rhythms.   How contemplative practices root us in God’s presence so our work becomes overflow, not overextension.   Resources & References Mentioned in This Episode:   Subversive Spirituality by Eugene Peterson   New Seeds of Contemplation by Thomas Merton   The Sayings of the Desert Fathers (various translations available)   The Spiritual Life by Evelyn Underhill   Jesus’ teaching on the easy yoke (Matthew 11:28–30) and the vine and branches (John 15)      Connect with Alan on LinkedIn or learn more about Unhurried Living programs on their website.  Learn about PACE: Certificate in Leadership and Soul Care  Discover more Christian podcasts at  lifeaudio.com     and inquire about advertising opportunities at     lifeaudio.com/contact-us.   

Sep 15, 2025 • 54min
The Art of Mindful Travel: Lessons from an Italian Tour Guide
 What’s the difference between rushing through a city and truly receiving it? In this episode of the Unhurried Living Podcast, Gem Fadling talks with Lauren Mouat—a writer, instructor, and licensed tour guide based in Tuscany, about how to travel with intention, depth, and presence. Lauren, originally from California, moved to Rome more than a decade ago and now leads tours through her company, Unlock Italy. With humor, eloquence, and a gift for storytelling, she doesn’t just share history facts she invites people into the stories, beauty, and humanity of the places they visit. In this conversation, Gem and Lauren explore:   Why stories make travel experiences more meaningful   The difference between “checking boxes” and traveling at a soulful pace   Practices like journaling, walking, and stillness that deepen connection   How to resist hurry and savor beauty, curiosity, and wonder   Ways to stay present and be moved by the places we encounter   Whether you’re planning your next trip or simply longing to live more mindfully where you are, this episode will inspire you to slow down, notice, and receive life as a gift. ______________________________________________________ Connect with Gem on Instagram and learn more on the Unhurried Living website and her new book, Hold That Thought: Sorting Through the Voices in Our Heads Learn about PACE: Certificate in Leadership and Soul Care  Discover more Christian podcasts at  lifeaudio.com     and inquire about advertising opportunities at     lifeaudio.com/contact-us.   

Sep 8, 2025 • 49min
Hearing the Psalms Like Never Before (Terry Wildman)
 What if you could hear the Psalms and Proverbs as if for the very first time? In this episode of the Unhurried Living Podcast, Alan Fadling talks with Terry Wildman, Ojibwe and Yaqui follower of Jesus, storyteller, musician, and lead translator of the First Nations Version (FNV). Terry has spent decades sharing Creator’s story in ways that resonate with Indigenous hearts. After the widely embraced release of the FNV New Testament in 2021, he and a translation council of over 20 tribes have now brought the beauty, rhythm, and imagery of Native American storytelling to Psalms and Proverbs. In this conversation, Alan and Terry explore:   How oral tradition opens fresh ways of hearing Scripture   The relational names for God, like Great Spirit and Grandfather   Why Psalms and Proverbs were chosen as the next FNV project   How this translation speaks to Indigenous and non-Indigenous readers alike   Practical ways to let Scripture slow you down and deepen your walk with God   If you long to encounter the Psalms and Proverbs in a way that stirs your soul and draws you into deeper communion with God, this episode will inspire you.    Connect with Alan on LinkedIn or learn more about Unhurried Living programs on their website.  Learn about PACE: Certificate in Leadership and Soul Care  Discover more Christian podcasts at  lifeaudio.com     and inquire about advertising opportunities at     lifeaudio.com/contact-us.   

Sep 1, 2025 • 40min
From Pressure to Presence: Rethinking the Way We Work
 What if your leadership wasn’t driven by hurry, but rooted in soul-deep transformation? In this episode, Alan and Gem Fadling explore how spiritual formation and leadership are meant to stay connected—and why separating them leads to exhaustion and burnout. We’ll talk about:   Why leadership development often gets siloed from spiritual formation   How unprocessed inner life shows up in hurried, anxious leadership   Practices that help leaders shift from pressure and performance to peace and purpose   Why leading from depth, rest, and soul-rooted presence makes your influence more life-giving   If you’ve ever felt stretched thin by the relentless demands of leadership, or wondered if there’s a slower, more grounded way to lead, this conversation will give you hope and practical steps forward. This episode also introduces PACE, a 21-month training experience for leaders who want to bring more soul into their work and more grace into their influence. 👉 Subscribe for more conversations on unhurried leadership, spiritual formation, and living at the pace of Jesus. #Leadership #Hurry #SpiritualFormation #UnhurriedLeadership #PACE #ChristianLeadership  Discover more Christian podcasts at  lifeaudio.com     and inquire about advertising opportunities at     lifeaudio.com/contact-us.   

Aug 25, 2025 • 48min
Growing Faith Through Humble Questions (A.J. Swoboda)
 In a world where certainty, hot takes, and strong opinions dominate, what if curiosity and humility were actually the more faithful way of following Jesus? In this episode of the Unhurried Living Podcast, Alan talks with pastor, theologian, and professor A. J. Swoboda about his new book, A Teachable Spirit. Together, they explore what it means to cultivate intellectual humility as a spiritual discipline and to rediscover the joy of learning—even from unexpected places and people. You’ll learn:   Why being teachable is central to spiritual formation.   How to learn from unlikely voices—children, strangers, enemies, and even the dead.   Practices for slowing down and resisting the culture of distraction and quick answers.   How curiosity creates deeper wisdom, peace, and more gracious leadership.   Guest Bio:A. J. Swoboda, PhD, is a pastor, theologian, and professor at Bushnell University in Eugene, Oregon, where he teaches Bible, theology, and Christian history. He is the author of several books, including Subversive Sabbath and After Doubt. He also co-hosts the “Slow Theology” podcast and is a sought-after voice on spiritual formation, rest, and resilience in today’s culture.    Connect with Alan on LinkedIn or learn more about Unhurried Living programs on their website.  Learn about PACE: Certificate in Leadership and Soul Care  Discover more Christian podcasts at  lifeaudio.com     and inquire about advertising opportunities at     lifeaudio.com/contact-us.   


