Restoring the Soul with Michael John Cusick

“God is not elsewhere.” - Gem FadlingOn this edition, Michael welcomes Gem Fadling to the podcast to discuss her latest book, “Hold That Thought: Sorting Through the Voices in Our Heads.” Gem is a founding partner of Unhurried Living, a non-profit that trains people to rest deeper, live fuller, and lead better. She is a Certified Life Coach and a trained Spiritual Director who coaches women at the intersection of spiritual leadership and soul care.Today, Michael and Gem discuss the book's genesis and the critical role our thoughts play in our spiritual formation. We hope you will see that when we are able to settle down and pursue things like curiosity and hope, our anxiety can lessen, and our true purposes can come into view.HELPFUL RESOURCES:I Can Do That podcastSupport the showENGAGE THE RESTORING THE SOUL PODCAST:- Follow us on YouTube - Tweet us at @michaeljcusick and @PodcastRTS- Like us on Facebook- Follow us on Instagram & Twitter- Follow Michael on Twitter- Email us at info@restoringthesoul.com Thanks for listening!

“Suffering and grace are the themes that have emerged - and they have defined the rest of my life.” - Philip YanceyOn this edition, Michael welcomes our good friend, Philip Yancey, to discuss his latest book, his memoir,  “Where the Light Fell.” At its heart, this is a book about the possibility of healing and the hope that nothing in a person’s life need go to waste. A fascinating read - we trust the conversation will be equally as stimulating.No author in contemporary Christian literature is more well-known for their writing on grace and suffering than Philip. He has authored over 25 books in which he has wrestled with God, the Church, and fellow believers. After surviving a church background of what he now calls “toxic faith,” he ultimately came to know a God of grace and beauty. Click here to view Philip Yancey’s blog.HELPFUL RESOURCES:Episode 123 - Philip Yancey, "Easter and COVID-19"Episode 105 - Philip Yancey, "Amazing Grace, Part 2"Episode 104 - Philip Yancey, "Amazing Grace, Part 1"Support the showENGAGE THE RESTORING THE SOUL PODCAST:- Follow us on YouTube - Tweet us at @michaeljcusick and @PodcastRTS- Like us on Facebook- Follow us on Instagram & Twitter- Follow Michael on Twitter- Email us at info@restoringthesoul.com Thanks for listening!

“There’s no better freedom than being the person God created you to be.” - Kevin TriplettOn this edition of the podcast, Michael welcomes back Kevin Triplett. Kevin was a guest in 2017 alongside Tony Anderson as they recounted their 2013 Restoring the Soul Men’s intensive weekend that catalyzed their radical life change. They also recount their stories in the incredible film, The Heart of Man.Since then, Kevin has joined Michael and the team at more weekend intensives. Today, he and Michael discuss the foundational importance of these gatherings.HELPFUL RESOURCES:Episode 54 - Tony Anderson & Kevin Triplett, "Surfing For God Weekend Intensive"The Heart of ManSupport the showENGAGE THE RESTORING THE SOUL PODCAST:- Follow us on YouTube - Tweet us at @michaeljcusick and @PodcastRTS- Like us on Facebook- Follow us on Instagram & Twitter- Follow Michael on Twitter- Email us at info@restoringthesoul.com Thanks for listening!

“A job of a songwriter is to not sleepwalk through the world.”  - Andy GullahornOur good friend Andy Gullahorn joins Michael on this edition of Restoring the Soul. Andy was born and raised in the rich musical climate of Austin, TX and then went to College at Belmont University in Nashville to join the legions of songwriters in the country music scene. After graduation, he spent several years as a staff writer for publishing companies while playing guitar on the road for singer/songwriter Jill Phillips (who he happens to be married to).In 2004, after realizing that his second child was on the way and that his wife would need to come off the road, Andy released “Room to Breathe” and began performing his shows again for the first time in 5 years.He now spends his time playing concerts and house shows across the country, accompanying other artists on the road, and providing his three kids with plenty of stories to tell their counselors in 20 years. Andy was a Kerrville New Folk Winner in 2010 and runner-up at the 2009 Rocky Mountain Folks Festival.HELPFUL RESOURCEShttps://www.andygullahorn.com/Support the showENGAGE THE RESTORING THE SOUL PODCAST:- Follow us on YouTube - Tweet us at @michaeljcusick and @PodcastRTS- Like us on Facebook- Follow us on Instagram & Twitter- Follow Michael on Twitter- Email us at info@restoringthesoul.com Thanks for listening!

“The idea of settling is actually stepping into a place of unfaithfulness.” - Chris BrunoOn this edition of Restoring the Soul, Michael welcomes Chris Bruno to the podcast where they will discuss, among other things, Chris’s latest work, “Sage.”A promotional web page for the book reads, “The time comes for every man where he realizes the morning of his life will soon turn towards afternoon. There is just as much behind as there is ahead, and the passage into a new season is about to begin.But many men have little sense of what this new season could or should entail, and we struggle knowing how to navigate it. We lack a vision for what it means to become a godly "Sage."  If you are in this particular stage of life, this conversation will draw you in and give you practical tools on how to navigate the waters of change, relevance, and purpose.The web page goes on to say, “To become a Sage is the pinnacle of manhood, and yet the vast majority of men settle for a too-small story as they pass the midlife mark. This passage into the second half is God's invitation to His bigger story.”Chris Bruno is currently residing in Colorado and is the Co-Founder and CEO of Restoration Project, and Founder of ReStory® Counseling, devoting his life to helping people come alive. He is the author of "Man Maker Project" and "Brotherhood Primer," and a licensed professional counselor. He has decades of experience helping men recover their hearts.HELPFUL RESOURCES:Purchase Sage on AmazonRestoration ProjectSupport the showENGAGE THE RESTORING THE SOUL PODCAST:- Follow us on YouTube - Tweet us at @michaeljcusick and @PodcastRTS- Like us on Facebook- Follow us on Instagram & Twitter- Follow Michael on Twitter- Email us at info@restoringthesoul.com Thanks for listening!

“Certain kinds of care for betrayal trauma actually makes people stuck or worse in their recovery.” - Julianne CusickOn this edition of Restoring the Soul, Michael concludes his conversation with Julianne Cusick about Betrayal Trauma. Today they will focus on Treatment Barriers to Healing from Betrayal Trauma. Today’s conversation is a continuation from our previous episode on Barriers to Overcoming Betrayal Trauma. In summary, some barriers are:Continued evidence of the partner acting outGaslighting (which is lying that changes a person’s perception)Partner’s inability or unwillingness to own their impactAnd the partner’s inability or unwillingness to open up and be honest about his healing journey.Even if you feel this episode is far from where you are relationally, there is a chance you might know someone who is struggling in this way. I encourage you to lean in for today’s important conversation.If there’s anything you’ll learn from this conversation, the key takeaway is that we have to address the underlying issues about the brokenness. We can’t just move forward.HELPFUL RESOURCES:Episode 231 - Julianne Cusick, "Barriers to Overcoming Betrayal Trauma"Support the showENGAGE THE RESTORING THE SOUL PODCAST:- Follow us on YouTube - Tweet us at @michaeljcusick and @PodcastRTS- Like us on Facebook- Follow us on Instagram & Twitter- Follow Michael on Twitter- Email us at info@restoringthesoul.com Thanks for listening!

“It’s impossible to recover from betrayal trauma when you’re still a victim of betrayal trauma.” - Julianne CusickOn this edition of Restoring the Soul, Michael welcomes back Julianne Cusick for the next two episodes as they discuss Betrayal Trauma. Today they will focus on Barriers to Overcoming Betrayal Trauma.In this podcast, we hope you will discover:Why a woman stays stuck in the process of betrayal traumaUnderstanding what “gaslighting” meansCommon barriers to healing relationally from betrayal traumaDid you know you can follow Michael and Restoring the Soul on social media? Simply search on Facebook and Twitter for the Restoring the Soul podcast. You can also find Michael on Twitter by searching for him. And as always, be sure to tell a friend about the podcast.Support the showENGAGE THE RESTORING THE SOUL PODCAST:- Follow us on YouTube - Tweet us at @michaeljcusick and @PodcastRTS- Like us on Facebook- Follow us on Instagram & Twitter- Follow Michael on Twitter- Email us at info@restoringthesoul.com Thanks for listening!

“Masculine power is intended to be good when it’s wholehearted and in the service of love.” - Morgan SnyderOn this edition of Restoring the Soul, Michael welcomes Morgan Snyder to the podcast.Morgan is a grateful husband of over 20 years and a proud father of a wildly creative and witty daughter and a joyful and passionate son. He serves as a strategist, entrepreneur, teacher, writer, and speaker. In 2010, he established BecomeGoodSoil and serves on the executive leadership team at Wild at Heart alongside John and Stasi Eldredge. Morgan goes off the grid every chance he gets, whether bow hunting in the Colorado wilderness or choosing the adventurous life with his greatest treasures: his wife, Cherie; his son, Joshua; and his daughter, Abigail.Michael and Morgan discuss, “Becoming a King, The Path to Restoring the Heart of a Man.”In this podcast, we hope you will discover:Why should this issue of power be a category for men?The common ways men respond to the desire to wield power.What is a generalist and why is it so important for a man to get his heart back?Support the showENGAGE THE RESTORING THE SOUL PODCAST:- Follow us on YouTube - Tweet us at @michaeljcusick and @PodcastRTS- Like us on Facebook- Follow us on Instagram & Twitter- Follow Michael on Twitter- Email us at info@restoringthesoul.com Thanks for listening!

“We’re loved into loving. That’s ultimately how we’re transformed.”  - Dr. Todd HallIt's no secret that we live in an increasingly isolated world. The pandemic has only exacerbated a startling trend: loneliness and disconnection have been on the rise for a long time in our society. We long for a deep sense of meaning to make sense of our lives, but we don't know how to find it. Even worse, we often search for it in unhealthy ways that hinder the very thing we're desperate for: genuine relational connection.On today’s Restoring the Soul conversation, Michael welcomes psychologist Dr. Todd Hall of Biola University, who has been researching human relationships and ways of connecting for many years. His latest book, “The Connected Life,” offers the fruit of that work, contending that real human growth doesn't come through head knowledge alone but through relational knowledge and strong attachment bonds. It's our relationships―with God and others―that lead to authentic transformation. Ultimately, the family of God provides the best context for lasting growth.If you want to receive 30% off of your copy of The Connected Life as well as free shipping, visit ivpress.com and use the code HALL 22. That’s ivpress.com and the code HALL 22 for 30% off and free shipping.HELPFUL RESOURCES:Aundi KolberEpisode 110 - Aundi Kolber, "Try Softer, Part 1"Episode 111 - Aundi Kolber, "Try Softer, Part 2"Curt ThompsonEpisode 65 - Dr. Curt Thompson, “Being Known, Part 1”Episode 66 - Dr. Curt Thompson, “Being Known, Part 2”Episode 122 - Dr. Curt Thompson, "Love and Lament During the Pandemic"Episode 189 - Dr. Curt Thompson, "Anatomy of the Soul, Part 1"Episode 190 - Dr. Curt Thompson, "Anatomy of the Soul, Part 2"Support the showENGAGE THE RESTORING THE SOUL PODCAST:- Follow us on YouTube - Tweet us at @michaeljcusick and @PodcastRTS- Like us on Facebook- Follow us on Instagram & Twitter- Follow Michael on Twitter- Email us at info@restoringthesoul.com Thanks for listening!

“I came to see that Michael had the power to devastate me but not destroy me.”  - Julianne CusickWhat’s the difference between forgiveness and reconciliation? There are similarities in the definition - but they are a world apart when it comes to practical application. Today’s podcast features a conversation between our very own Julianne Cusick, who was recently interviewed by Bill Arnold on Faith Radio. On previous Restoring the Soul podcasts, we have featured Julianne’s story of overcoming the wounds of sexual betrayal, and what you will find in her conversation with Bill are timeless insights and fresh perspectives that will encourage anyone.HELPFUL RESOURCES:Afternoons with Bill ArnoldEpisode 218 - Julianne Cusick, "A Holy & Horrible Journey" Episode 195 - Julianne Cusick, “Devastated But Not Destroyed”Episode 166 - Julianne Cusick, "Treatment Barriers to Healing from Betrayal Trauma"Episode 165 - Julianne Cusick, "Barriers to Overcoming Betrayal Trauma"Episode 115 - Julianne Cusick, "5 Things Husbands Can Do to Support Their Wives After Betrayal"Episode 114 - Julianne Cusick, "5 Facts Wives Need to Know After Betrayal"Support the showENGAGE THE RESTORING THE SOUL PODCAST:- Follow us on YouTube - Tweet us at @michaeljcusick and @PodcastRTS- Like us on Facebook- Follow us on Instagram & Twitter- Follow Michael on Twitter- Email us at info@restoringthesoul.com Thanks for listening!