Restoring the Soul with Michael John Cusick

“Suffering and grace are the themes that have emerged - and they have defined the rest of my life.” - Philip YanceyOn this edition, Michael welcomes back our good friend, Philip Yancey. 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, with the Church, and with 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. Over the next two episodes, Michael and Philip discuss the major themes of his latest book, his memoir titled, 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.Click here to subscribe to 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!

“Healing requires fierceness and tenderness.” - Aundi KolberOn this edition of Restoring the Soul, Michael welcomes back Aundi Kolber to the Restoring the Soul podcast to conclude their 2-part discussion. On this episode, they will be discussing what it means to Discover Self Compassion”. Many of us don’t realize that just as God is profoundly kind and compassionate to us, we are invited to steward that compassion toward ourselves, too, in the form of self-compassion. How do we do this? We begin to practice gentleness and attentiveness toward our wounds in the same way that God is already kind to us. Aundi Kolber is a Licensed Professional Counselor (MA LPC), writer, and speaker from Castle Rock, Colorado who specializes in trauma- and body-centered therapies and is passionate about the integration of faith and psychology. She has written for Relevant, CT Women, and (in) courage. As a survivor of trauma, Aundi brings hard-won knowledge around the work of change, the power of redemption, and the beauty of experiencing God with us in our pain. Connect with Aundi at aundikolber.com, on Facebook at aundikolberwrites, and on Instagram at aundikolberHELPFUL RESOURCES:Episode 199 - Aundi Kolber, "Understanding Attunement" Episode 111 - Aundi Kolber, "Try Softer, Part 2"Episode 110 - Aundi Kolber, "Try Softer, Part 1"Episode 71 - Aundi Kolber Part II, “Healing Trauma: Getting Unstuck and Becoming Whole”Episode 70 - Aundi Kolber Part I, “Healing Trauma: Getting Unstuck and Becoming Whole”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!

“Attunement is an awareness and an attendance to your present experience.” - Aundi KolberOn this edition of Restoring the Soul, Michael welcomes back Aundi Kolber to the Restoring the Soul podcast. They will be discussing what it means to understand “Attunement” and the companion “Try Softer” resources that are now available, including The Try Softer Guided Journey: A Soulful Companion to Healing. Aundi Kolber is a Licensed Professional Counselor (MA LPC), writer, and speaker from Castle Rock, Colorado who specializes in trauma and body-centered therapies and is passionate about the integration of faith and psychology. She has written for Relevant, CT Women, and (in) courage. As a survivor of trauma, Aundi brings hard-won knowledge around the work of change, the power of redemption, and the beauty of experiencing God with us in our pain. Connect with Aundi at aundikolber.com, on Facebook at aundikolberwrites, and on Instagram at aundikolber.HELPFUL RESOURCES:Episode 70 - Aundi Kolber Part I, “Healing Trauma: Getting Unstuck and Becoming Whole”Episode 71 - Aundi Kolber Part II, “Healing Trauma: Getting Unstuck and Becoming Whole”Episode 110 - Aundi Kolber, "Try Softer, Part 1"Episode 111 - Aundi Kolber, "Try Softer, 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!

Discussion on transitioning from accountability to accessibility through cardiologist accountability. Exploring how porn addiction can lead to true passion. Addressing the prevalence of porn viewing among Christian men. Emphasizing the role of curiosity, friendship, and spiritual growth in becoming a cardiologist of transformation.

Michael John Cusick explores coach accountability and the role of inspiration in personal growth. He discusses how porn addiction can be a bridge to abundant life and questions if it's a search for true passion. The episode delves into the struggles of overcoming addiction and the importance of genuine commitment in fostering a shame-free environment for growth.

In this podcast, Michael John Cusick discusses the concept of accountability, highlighting cop accountability as a way to overcome sin. He explores the barrier of porn addiction and its connection to true passion. With insights on vulnerability and trust, the episode delves into the struggles of Christian men with porn addiction and the ineffective use of willpower. The podcast encourages deeper conversations and genuine growth in relationships for authentic accountability.

Today’s episode is very special since you’ll be listening to a message from Julianne Cusick, Michael's bride of over 25 years. Her talk, “Devastated but not Destroyed” is a message she gave in 2004 where for the very first time she shared her story of heartbreak, hope, and healing from sexual betrayal and sexual addiction that was exposed in 1994. Giving this talk took a tremendous amount of courage and strength, and as you will hear she delivered the message with profound grace and dignity.  Julianne holds a Master's degree in Marriage and Family Therapy and her passion is to fight for the hearts of women and men shattered after pornography, affairs, and other forms of intimate partner betrayal. She is EMDR trained and utilizes a trauma-informed lens when working with women, men, and couples. Julianne embodies hope arising from her own story of healing and redemption.HELPFUL RESOURCES:Episode 94 - Julianne Cusick, "A Holy & Horrible Journey"Episode 114 - Julianne Cusick, "5 Facts Wives Need to Know After Betrayal"Episode 115 - Julianne Cusick, "5 Things Husbands Can Do to Support Their Wives After Betrayal"Episode 165 - Julianne Cusick, "Barriers to Overcoming Betrayal Trauma"Episode 166 - Julianne Cusick, "Treatment Barriers to Healing from 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!

“The higher your Christology, the wider you see Abba’s love to be.” - Brad JersakBrad Jersak is Michael’s guest on today’s podcast. Their conversation centers around how Christ-followers might hold the tension of two abiding and complementary truths: - Christ’s one-of-a-kind revelation- Abba’s all-inclusive love. IN: Incarnation, Inclusion = Abba & Lamb.Brad lays out biblical and experiential evidence for integrating and celebrating both these truths together, espousing the beautiful gospel of Christ’s unique revelation of Abba’s all-inclusive love. Brad Jersak is an author and teacher based in Abbotsford, BC. He serves as a reader and monastery preacher at All Saints of North America Orthodox Monastery. Through his books and seminars, Brad shares the good news that God is Love, perfectly revealed in Jesus Christ. He teaches others how to encounter God through the practice of ”listening prayer,” through which God’s love heals wounded hearts and empowers us to heal this broken world.In this podcast, we hope you will discover:The importance of knowing God the Father as Abba.The Lamb is the revelation of the nature of GodThe main point and purpose of the incarnationHELPFUL RESOURCES:Episode 50 - Brad Jersak, "A More Beautiful Gospel, Part 1"Episode 51 - Brad Jersak, "A More Beautiful Gospel, 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!

“Risk-taking can lead to restoration only if it’s motivated by love.” - Haejin Shim FujimuraOn this edition of Restoring the Soul, Michael welcomes Mako & Haejin Shim Fujimura. Today, they will discuss a number of topics ranging from trauma, 9/11, Kintsugi, the Covid-19 pandemic, and Human trafficking.Mako is a leading contemporary artist whose process-driven, refractive “slow art” has been described by David Brooks of the New York Times as “a small rebellion against the quickening of time”. He is also an arts advocate, writer, and speaker who is recognized worldwide as a cultural influencer. A Presidential appointee to the National Council on the Arts from 2003-2009, Fujimura served as an international advocate for the arts, speaking with decision-makers and advising governmental policies on the arts.Married to Mako, Haejin is an international attorney and CEO of Embers International. She also serves as the President of Kintsugi Academy. Her life mission is to bringing light into the darkness and help others being remade in order for them to recover.HELPFUL RESOURCES:http://www.embersinternational.org/https://kintsugiacademy.be/en/Episode 13 - Mako Fujimura, “Silence and Beauty, Part 1” Episode 14 - Mako Fujimura, “Silence and Beauty, 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!

“It’s not about limits. It’s about filling our lives with what we really want.” - Andy CrouchToday we conclude our conversation with author, musician and speaker, Andy Crouch, about his book,  “The Tech-Wise Family: Everyday Steps for Putting Technology in Its Proper Place.” As school is back in session and families are getting back to some regular life rhythms, we thought a conversation centered around how the entire family leverages technology would be most beneficial for the next few episodes. On the back jacket of the book, it states poignantly, “Reclaiming real life in a world of devices.”On this episode, keep an ear out for a few of the 10 Tech-Wise Commitments, such as:Develop wisdom and courage as a familyCreate more than we consumeWake up before our devices do. Go to bed before they do.If you don’t know Andy Crouch, he was an editor and producer at Christianity Today for more than 10 years. His work and writing have been featured in The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, Time, —and, most importantly, received a shout-out in Lecrae's 2014 single "Non-Fiction." We count it a privilege to know Andy and consider him a strong ally and friend in the fight to restore hearts and lives.HELPFUL RESOURCES:Episode 191 - Andy Crouch, "The Tech-Wise Family, Part 1"Episode 11 - Andy Crouch, "Strong and Weak, Part 1"Episode 12 - Andy Crouch, "Strong and Weak, 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!