Unhurried Living | Helping Christians Rest Deeper & Lead Better

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.

What if reading could become a spiritual practice—not just for gaining knowledge, but for nourishing your soul?   In this episode of the Unhurried Living Podcast, Alan Fadling talks with Jeff Crosby, author of World of Wonders: A Spirituality of Reading, about the formative power of books. Together they explore how stories, poetry, memoir, and even Scripture can shape our hearts, spark wonder, and help us encounter God’s presence in the pages of a book.   In this conversation, you’ll discover: How books can become trusted companions in your spiritual journey Why stories, poetry, and memoir awaken wonder and reshape our hearts Practical ways to cultivate a reading life that nourishes your soul How reading Scripture slowly and reflectively forms us over time   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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.