Restoring the Soul with Michael John Cusick

“We are to be a compassionate witness for ourselves so our body can do what God created it to do.”  - Aundi KolberOn this edition of Restoring the Soul, Michael and Julianne welcome returning guest, Aundi Kolber, for the first of a 2-part conversation.Aundi is a licensed professional counselor (MA, LPC), an author, and a speaker living in Castle Rock, Colorado. She has received additional training in her specialization of 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 about the work of change, the power of redemption, and the beauty of experiencing God with us in our pain. Aundi is happily married to her best friend, Brendan, and is the proud mom of Matia and Jude. She has also just published her first book, Try Softer. It just might be the only book you need to read this year. Congratulations, Aundi!In this podcast, we hope you will discover how to:Move through emotions rather than get stuck by themGrow in self-compassion and talk back to your inner criticPay compassionate attention to your life experience.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!

“If you’re my disciples you will know the truth and the truth will set you free.”  - JesusToday, we conclude our 2-part conversation with Lisa TerKeurst.Lisa is President of Proverbs 31 Ministries and New York Times’ best-selling author of It’s Not Supposed to Be This Way. Proverbs 31 Ministries is a non-denominational, non-profit Christian ministry that seeks to lead women into a personal relationship with Christ, with Proverbs 31:10-31 as a guide.In their conversation, Lysa and Michael (along with Meredith Brock) introduce us to a new perspective on pornography, a subject that’s often avoided in the Christian world but is affecting us all. No matter your stage of life, we recommend listening with an open mind and open heart to gain a better understanding on how to support a spouse, friend or loved one who may be facing this challenge.In this podcast, we hope you will discover:Replace the stigma associated with pornography with a new understanding that the addiction to pornography comes from a genuine desire to be seen, known and loved.Let go of your own fear and guilt because of a spouse or loved one’s pornography addiction and discover the role spiritual fullness and emptiness play in the battle with pornography.Overcome your hesitation to have “the talk” with a loved one about pornography by learning healthy, biblically based conversation starters.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 essence of purity is not the suppression of lust, but the total orientation of one's life towards a goal.”  - Dietrich BonhoefferWhat if the real struggle behind pornography was actually a deep longing for fullness in Christ? Welcome to Restoring the Soul where for the next 2 podcasts we bring you encore editions of a conversation Michael has with Lysa TerKeurst titled, “Therapy & Theology” on the Proverbs 31 Ministries Podcast. Lisa is President of Proverbs 31 Ministries and New York Times’ best-selling author of It’s Not Supposed to Be This Way. Proverbs 31 Ministries is a non-denominational, non-profit Christian ministry that seeks to lead women into a personal relationship with Christ, with Proverbs 31:10-31 as a guide.In these episodes, Lysa and Michael (along with Meredith Brock) introduce us to a new perspective on pornography, a subject that’s often avoided in the Christian world but is affecting us all. No matter your stage of life, we recommend listening with an open mind and open heart to gain a better understanding on how to support a spouse, friend or loved one who may be facing this challenge.In this podcast, we hope you will learn how to:Replace the stigma associated with pornography with a new understanding that the addiction to pornography comes from a genuine desire to be seen, known and loved.Let go of your own fear and guilt because of a spouse or loved one’s pornography addiction and discover the role spiritual fullness and emptiness play in the battle with pornography.Overcome your hesitation to have “the talk” with a loved one about pornography by learning healthy, biblically based conversation starters.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!

“God never called you to a life of panting feverishness. We impose that upon ourselves.”  - James Bryan SmithToday, we conclude our 2-part conversation with James Bryan Smith.James is the author of The Good and Beautiful God and the Apprentice series. He earned his MDiv at Yale and his DMin at Fuller and is a theology professor at Friends University in Wichita, Kansas. He also serves as the director of the Apprentice Institute for Christian Spiritual Formation at Friends University.A founding member of Richard J. Foster's spiritual renewal ministry, Renovaré, Smith serves as a teaching pastor at Chapel Hill United Methodist Church. He is the editor of A Spiritual Formation Workbook and Devotional Classics (with Richard Foster), and the author of Embracing the Love of God, Rich Mullins: An Arrow Pointing to Heaven, and Room of Marvels. His most recent books are The Magnificent Story and The Magnificent Journey.In this podcast, we hope you will discover:Why he refers to himself as the “Forrest Gump of Christianity”The importance of sleep as a soul training exerciseThe remaining 2 sides of the Triangle of TransformationSupport 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 want to become the person that naturally is like Jesus because I have been with Him for so long.”  - James Bryan SmithToday, we begin a 2-part conversation with James Bryan Smith.James is the author of The Good and Beautiful God and the Apprentice series. He earned his MDiv at Yale and his DMin at Fuller and is a theology professor at Friends University in Wichita, Kansas. He also serves as the director of the Apprentice Institute for Christian Spiritual Formation at Friends University.A founding member of Richard J. Foster's spiritual renewal ministry, Renovaré, Smith serves as a teaching pastor at Chapel Hill United Methodist Church. He is the editor of A Spiritual Formation Workbook and Devotional Classics (with Richard Foster), and the author of Embracing the Love of God, Rich Mullins: An Arrow Pointing to Heaven, and Room of Marvels. His most recent books are The Magnificent Story and The Magnificent Journey.In this podcast, we hope you will discover:The difference between spiritual formation and discipleship.What happens when God is the subject of active verbs.The devastating result of teaching people only the spiritual disciplines.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!

“You lead by serving, That’s what we’re to do. It’s not to impress people. It’s not to be perfect. It’s not to be right. It’s to serve.”  - Philip YanceyToday, we present the conclusion of one of our most popular interviews with Philip Yancey.Philip Yancey is one of Christianity’s best thinkers and writers. He’s an award-winning journalist and best-selling author whose books have sold over 14 million copies. His work has also been celebrated by Billy Graham and Bono - which is no wonder because of the universal themes of suffering and grace that he so often writes about. A few of his books include, “What’s So Amazing About Grace”, “The Jesus I Never Knew”, “Where is God When It Hurts?”, and “Disappointment With God”. Michael first met Philip in 1994 when he interviewed him for the Mars Hill Review. Since that time, the men have grown to know and enjoy each other, and have become significant sources of encouragement for their respective journeys.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!

“If this world ran by fairness or karma, we’d all be in trouble.”  - Philip YanceyToday, we’re pleased to feature an encore edition of the Restoring the Soul podcast with an interview Michael conducted with Philip Yancey.Philip Yancey is one of Christianity’s best thinkers and writers. He’s an award-winning journalist and best-selling author whose books have sold over 14 million copies. His work has also been celebrated by Billy Graham and Bono - which is no wonder because of the universal themes of suffering and grace that he so often writes about. A few of his books include, “What’s So Amazing About Grace”, “The Jesus I Never Knew”, “Where is God When It Hurts?”, and “Disappointment With God”. Michael first met Philip in 1994 when he interviewed him for the Mars Hill Review. Since that time, the men have grown to know and enjoy each other, and have become significant sources of encouragement for their respective journeys.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!

“If you really don’t want to grow as a person, don’t study the Enneagram.”  - Kelley GrayToday, we’re concluding our 5-part series on how the Enneagram can strengthen your marriage or intimate relationship. Michael’s Restoring the Soul colleague is Kelley Gray, our resident expert on the Enneagram. Part V will focus on the importance of taking care of yourself in order to thrive in your marriage.A popular guest on a previous Restoring the Soul podcast, Kelley—is a self-proclaimed growth nerd--works, counsels, and teaches at Restoring the Soul and specializes in intensive counseling with couples and individual. Prior to coming to Restoring the Soul she worked as a private practice psychotherapist in the Denver area for 17 years. She is deeply passionate about therapy, growth, and laughing. She is a writer, teacher, speaker and group leader who is passionate about transformation and wholeness. As you will hear, Kelly’s knowledge of the Enneagram as practical as it is deep. In this podcast, we hope you will discover:Your relationships start to look differently when you start to take ownership of your own flaws.The importance of learning to acknowledge your own needs, name them, and take responsibility for them.That when we take care of ourselves and deal with ourselves and choose to be responsible and mature, that will make for the healthiest and most loving relationship.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!

“See how much more connected you can be when you name and bless your differences.”  - Kelley GrayToday, we’re continuing a 5-part series on how the Enneagram can strengthen your marriage or intimate relationship. Michael’s Restoring the Soul colleague is Kelley Gray, our resident expert on the Enneagram. Part IV will focus on how to celebrate and bless your differences.A popular guest on a previous Restoring the Soul podcast, Kelley—is a self-proclaimed growth nerd--works, counsels, and teaches at Restoring the Soul and specializes in intensive counseling with couples and individual. Prior to coming to Restoring the Soul she worked as a private practice psychotherapist in the Denver area for 17 years. She is deeply passionate about therapy, growth, and laughing. She is a writer, teacher, speaker and group leader who is passionate about transformation and wholeness. As you will hear, Kelly’s knowledge of the Enneagram as practical as it is deep. In this podcast, we hope you will discover:That if we could deal with the ways we are different from our spouse, it could keep us out of some unnecessary fightsDifferences in marriage are not a threat to the health and stability of the relationship.That by studying the Enneagram, it can help couples put more language to deep drives, desires, and needs that develop in their relationship.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!

“Lower level behavior in one person begets lower level behavior in the other person.”  - Kelley GrayToday, we’re continuing a 5-part series on how the Enneagram can strengthen your marriage or intimate relationship. Michael’s Restoring the Soul colleague is Kelley Gray, our resident expert on the Enneagram. Part III will focus on how to not take things personally.A popular guest on a previous Restoring the Soul podcast, Kelley—is a self-proclaimed growth nerd--works, counsels, and teaches at Restoring the Soul and specializes in intensive counseling with couples and individual. Prior to coming to Restoring the Soul she worked as a private practice psychotherapist in the Denver area for 17 years. She is deeply passionate about therapy, growth, and laughing. She is a writer, teacher, speaker and group leader who is passionate about transformation and wholeness. As you will hear, Kelly’s knowledge of the Enneagram as practical as it is deep. In this podcast, we hope you will discover:That becoming a student of your partner which will bring a level of empathy and compassion you have been unable to experience before.How to develop the ability to see the other person’s vantage point.The healthy and unhealthy parts of your Enneagram number.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!