Unhurried Living | Helping Christians Rest Deeper & Lead Better

In this episode of the Unhurried Living Podcast, Alan Fadling reflects on four striking insights from Frederick Faber’s Spiritual Conferences, a classic work of Christian spiritual formation. These timeless passages speak directly into our modern struggle with busyness, pressure, and spiritual exhaustion.   Alan explores the surprising rhythm of the saints who “did few things,” the invitation to savor grace rather than rush past it, the deeper measure of our work in God’s eyes, and the way hurry can cloud our vision of God.   If you long for a more grounded, spacious, and unhurried life with God, this episode offers gentle guidance and a clear path forward.     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.

In this episode, Gem Fadling invites you to rethink the idea of “life balance.” Many of us try to keep every part of life perfectly calibrated, yet still feel overwhelmed and spiritually depleted. Instead of striving for balance, Gem offers a more compassionate and sustainable approach: cultivating a life rhythm shaped by God’s presence.   Through gentle guidance and four reflective questions, she helps you discern what truly matters, where your energy is going, what needs release, and how to build patterns that bring rest and clarity. If you’re longing for a more grounded, peaceful, and spiritually centered way to live, this conversation will meet you right where you are. ______________________________________________________ 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.

Why don’t people trust the church anymore—and how can that change?   In this episode, Alan talks with Dr. Eric Mason, founder and lead pastor of Epiphany Fellowship in Philadelphia and author of Rebranding the Church: Restoring the Image of God’s People in the World (Multnomah, 2025). Eric believes that rebranding the church isn’t about polishing its image—it’s about rediscovering its soul.   Drawing on more than three decades of pastoral experience, Eric calls the church to return to the heart of Jesus’ message: loving God, loving people, and embodying the gospel in everyday life. Together, Alan and Eric talk about the church’s credibility crisis, the difference between reputation and reality, and why authentic discipleship is the truest form of rebranding.   They also explore how believers can rebuild trust with their communities, discern truth in an age of false teaching, and create spaces of healing for those wounded by the church. Eric’s message is both prophetic and hopeful—a reminder that God still delights in renewing His people from the inside out.   If you’ve ever felt discouraged by what the church has become, this conversation will rekindle your hope for what the church can be: a people who live the good news they proclaim.   Dr. Eric Mason is founder and lead pastor of Epiphany Fellowship in Philadelphia and president of Thriving, an urban ministry training leaders locally and globally. He’s the author of Woke Church, Manhood Restored, and Urban Apologetics. As well as his latest book, Rebranding the Church.     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.

A comforting, formational, year-end episode.   As the year comes to a close, many of us feel pressure to evaluate, wrap up loose ends, or “finish strong.” But maybe there’s another way. In this grace-filled conversation, Alan and Gem explore how to end the year without pushing yourself… and instead rest in the easy yoke of Jesus (Matthew 11:28–30).   Together they unpack Scripture, share lived wisdom, and offer spiritual practices that help you breathe again. If you’re feeling weary, overwhelmed, or unsure how to approach the end of the year, this episode will give you compassion, grounding, and hope.   Download the FREE Year End Reflection Resource to enter 2026 with grace.   Connect with Alan and Gem to 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.

Prayer doesn’t always move in one direction. Sometimes it feels rich and alive; other times, quiet and dry. But what if those ebbs and flows aren’t signs of failure, but signs of growth?   In this episode, Alan Fadling reflects on how prayer matures—not in a straight line, but like the slow, rising tide. Drawing on insights from Leonard Boase’s 1962 classic The Prayer of Faith and the seaside story of pastor and theologian Lee Whiston, Alan explores what it means to stop trying to “bring in the tide” ourselves and instead cooperate with God’s steady work of grace.   You’ll discover why the early sweetness of prayer often gives way to quieter forms of presence, and how grace deepens precisely in those quieter seasons.   In This Episode Why prayer matures through both consolation and desolation How the tide image helps us trust God’s slow work What Lee Whiston’s experience reveals about surrender and grace How emotional intensity yields to simple awareness of God   You’ll Gain Encouragement when prayer feels quiet or dry A renewed trust in grace’s unhurried rhythm Practical insight for cooperating with, not managing, God’s presence   Resources Mentioned The Prayer of Faith by Leonard Boase An Unhurried Life and An Unhurried Leader by Alan Fadling   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.

When life feels overwhelming, empathy often becomes the very thing our souls are longing for. In this episode, Gem sits down with Bill and Kristi Gaultiere, founders of Soul Shepherding, to explore the healing power of empathy in the Christian life.   Drawing from their new book Deeply Loved, they share how true empathy helps us trade self-judgment for grace, comfort emotional wounds, release worry, and walk more closely with Jesus. This conversation offers practical guidance through the Four A’s of Empathy, along with compassionate wisdom for becoming more grounded, present, and emotionally healthy.   Whether you’re navigating conflict, longing for deeper relationships, or seeking healing for your soul, this episode invites you into the life-changing reality of being deeply loved.   Drs. Bill and Kristi Gaultiere are the founders of Soul Shepherding. With more than thirty years of counseling and ministry experience, Bill and Kristi have guided thousands of people in the journey toward emotional health and intimacy with Jesus. Their new book, Deeply Loved, is a beautiful, life-giving invitation into the kind of empathy that strengthens relationships, raises our emotional intelligence, and leads us back to the heart of Christ. ______________________________________________________ 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.

True success doesn’t happen overnight. In his new book Gradually Then Suddenly, bestselling author and pastor Mark Batterson reminds us that God is often doing His deepest work slowly—beneath the surface, over time—so that when the breakthrough comes, we’re ready for it. In this conversation, Mark and Alan explore how faithfulness in small, daily choices prepares the way for unexpected moments of transformation. They talk about persistence, conviction, “cathedral thinking,” and how God grows us at what Mark calls the speed of a seed. If you’ve ever wondered whether your quiet obedience still matters, this episode will encourage you to trust that God’s gradual work always leads to sudden grace. In this episode, you’ll discover: Why what looks like “overnight success” is really the fruit of long obedience. How small, consistent actions create a “compound effect” of spiritual growth. What it means to live and lead at the speed of a seed. How to hold a long view of faith—what Mark calls cathedral thinking. Encouragement for weary hearts who feel stuck in slow seasons.   Resources Mentioned: Gradually Then Suddenly by Mark Batterson Learn more at markbatterson.com   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.

During the holiday season, we can all feel overwhelmed and stressed. But what do you really need? And what would it look like to engage life with a deeper sense of agency and self-compassion? Today on Unhurried Living Podcast, we are replaying a conversation between Gem and Aundi Kolber as they invites us to embrace the transformative power of kindness toward ourselves. We’ll explore how early experiences shape the way we suppress our needs, why it’s so hard to name and honor what we truly feel, and how practicing softness can actually make us stronger.  In this conversation, you’ll learn: How our past experiences shape the way we engage with our needs and emotions Why self-compassion is a powerful (and often overlooked) tool for transformation A simple prayer or body practice you can use in moments of stress   Join us as we dive deep into what it means to cultivate resilience, trust, and a deeper friendship with God—even in the hard places. ________________________________ Aundi Kolber is a licensed professional counselor (LPC), trauma-informed therapist, and best-selling author of Try Softer and Strong Like Water. With a compassionate and holistic approach, Aundi integrates psychology, faith, and neuroscience to help individuals experience emotional healing and resilience. She is passionate about empowering people to move toward wholeness by learning to honor their needs, trust their inner wisdom, and cultivate a life of deep compassion. Through her writing, speaking, and therapeutic work, Aundi offers a refreshing invitation to wholeness—one that prioritizes gentleness, self-compassion, and deep connection with God. ______________________________________________________ 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.

What if your morning didn’t begin with hurry, but with holy attention? In this episode, Alan Fadling shares how simple, grounded practices help him begin each day in God’s presence.   Over the years, Alan’s early “quiet time” has matured into a rhythm of relationship—an unhurried meeting with the Living God. He describes his morning flow of silence, Scripture reading, singing the psalms, praying for others, and reading spiritual classics like The Philokalia.   You’ll hear how these rhythms have become daily invitations rather than obligations—ways of remembering God, listening for his voice, and resting in love before the day begins.   Resources mentioned: The New Coverdale Psalter(Anglican House Publishers) YouTube video about The New Coverdale Psalter An Unhurried Life An Unhurried Leader   Whether you’re exploring new spiritual rhythms or returning to familiar ones, this episode offers encouragement to meet with God as a friend. Learn how simple practices—quiet, prayer, and Scripture—can nourish your soul and prepare you for the day’s work in a deeply unhurried way.   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.

What happens when you spend an entire year learning from the life and wisdom of a trusted spiritual mentor? In this conversation, author and spiritual director Lori G. Melton shares her experience walking alongside the insights of Mister Fred Rogers, America’s favorite neighbor.   Drawing from her book Journey with a Giant, Lori invites us into a year-long spiritual practice of choosing a “giant of faith” to learn from. She shares how reflecting on Fred Rogers’ approach to life, faith, and presence helped her slow down, deepen her relationship with God, and gain clarity about her purpose.   Whether you choose Fred Rogers or another spiritual guide, this conversation will inspire you to: Embrace the wisdom of those who have walked with God before you Cultivate habits of presence, patience, and listening Experience steady spiritual growth without striving   If you’ve been feeling spiritually stuck or longing for deeper connection, this episode offers a gentle yet powerful way to take the next step on your faith journey.   About Lori G. Melton:Lori G. Melton is an author, spiritual director, retreat leader, and a member of Hope*Writers. She and her husband, Bryan, are the creators of the Sanctuary Stirrings Podcast and the founders and directors of The Sanctuary at Bear Creek Retreat Center, which serves hundreds of people a year. When she’s not writing, speaking, or welcoming guests, she enjoys spending time with her six children and three grandchildren. ______________________________________________________ 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.