Restoring the Soul with Michael John Cusick

 On Episode 19 Michael’s guest is Crystal Renaud, author, speaker, and pioneer in the growing movement to address pornography addiction in women and girls. Crystal is the Founder and Executive Director of Dirty Girls Ministries (DGM) as well as an author, speaker, and professional life coach from the Kansas City area. DGM exists to provide help, hope, and healing to women struggling with pornography and sexual addiction. In her first book, Dirty Girls Come Clean (Moody Publishers), Crystal shares her story of freedom from eight years of pornography use with steps and recovery questions for personal or group study. In her second book, 90 Days to Wholeness, Crystal expounds upon the steps outlined in Dirty Girls Come Clean to help journey women journey through 90 days of daily recovery devotionals.  Her work has been featured in the New York Times, ABC News, CNN, Christianity Today, 700 Club, and more. She holds a Bachelors of Science in Psychology from Liberty University and four certifications including Professional Life Coaching from the American Association of Christian Counselors. 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!

 On Episode 18 Michael’s guest is Crystal Renaud, author, speaker, and pioneer in the growing movement to address pornography addiction in women and girls. Crystal is the Founder and Executive Director of Dirty Girls Ministries (DGM) as well as an author, speaker, and professional life coach from the Kansas City area. DGM exists to provide help, hope, and healing to women struggling with pornography and sexual addiction.  In her first book, Dirty Girls Come Clean (Moody Publishers), Crystal shares her story of freedom from eight years of pornography use with steps and recovery questions for personal or group study. In her second book, 90 Days to Wholeness, Crystal expounds upon the steps outlined in Dirty Girls Come Clean to journey women through 90 days of daily recovery devotionals. Her work has been featured in the New York Times, ABC News, CNN, Christianity Today, 700 Club, and more. She holds a Bachelors of Science in Psychology from Liberty University and four certifications including Professional Life Coaching from the American Association of Christian Counselors.  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!

 Today’s episode is very special since you’ll be listening to a message from Julianne Cusick, Michael's bride of 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 is a registered psychotherapist and adjunct counselor with Restoring the Soul where her passion is to fight for the hearts of women silenced by shame and fear related to their husband's sexual brokenness. She holds a bachelor's degree from St. Leo University and is currently a candidate for a Masters in Marriage and Family Therapy. A dynamic and engaging communicator, Julianne speaks to Christian organizations, women’s groups, and retreats, all from the voice and hope of her own story of healing and redemption. Julianne is the mother of two active teenagers and enjoys gardening, the outdoors, and spending time with friends. 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!

On Episode 16 Michael's guest is Ian Morgan Cron. Ian is a bestselling author, nationally recognized speaker, Enneagram teacher, psychotherapist, Dove Award–winning songwriter, and Episcopal priest. His books include The Road Back To You, the novel Chasing Francis and spiritual memoir Jesus, My Father, the CIA, and Me. In the second part of Michael's discussion, he and Ian talk about the crucial need of self-knowledge, the nature of the true self, the beauty of the Gospel, and the counter intuitive idea that we grow in loving others as we grow in loving ourselves. As you will discover, Ian draws on a wide array of disciplines—from psychology to the arts, Christian spirituality and theology—to help people enter more deeply into conversation with God and the mystery of their own lives. He and his wife, Anne, live in Nashville, Tennessee. 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!

 On Episode 15 Michael's guest is Ian Morgan Cron. Ian is a bestselling author, nationally recognized speaker, Enneagram teacher, psychotherapist, Dove Award–winning songwriter, and Episcopal priest. His books include The Road Back To You, the novel Chasing Francis and spiritual memoir Jesus, My Father, the CIA, and Me. As you will discover, Ian draws on a wide array of disciplines—from psychology to the arts, Christian spirituality and theology—to help people enter more deeply into conversation with God and the mystery of their own lives. He and his wife, Anne, live in Nashville, Tennessee. 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!

 Today on the program, Michael concludes his two-part interview with Mako Fujimura, visual artist, author, thought leader, and cultural-shaper who was recently appointed Director of The Brehm Center at Fuller Seminary. His paintings have been exhibited around the world and he is one of the first artists to paint live on stage at New York City’s legendary Carnegie Hall.   Photo credit: Alyson Lecroy 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!

 Today on the program, and into the next episode, Michael is speaking with Mako Fujimura, visual artist, author, thought leader, and cultural-shaper who was recently appointed Director of The Brehm Center at Fuller Seminary. His paintings have been exhibited around the world and he is one of the first artists to paint live on stage at New York City’s legendary Carnegie Hall.  A popular speaker, he has lectured at numerous conferences, universities and museums, including the Aspen Institute, Yale and Princeton Universities, Sato Museum and the Phoenix Art Museum. Fujimura founded the International Arts Movement in 1992, a non-profit whose “Encounter” conferences have featured cultural catalysts such as Dr. Elaine Scarry, Dennis Donoghue, Billy Collins, Dana Gioia, Calvin DeWitt and Miroslav Volf.  Fujimura’s second book, Refractions: A Journey of Faith, Art and Culture, is a collection of essays bringing together people of all backgrounds in a conversation and meditation on culture, art, and humanity. In celebration of the 400th Anniversary of the King James Bible, Crossway Publishing commissioned and published The Four Holy Gospels, featuring Fujimura’s illuminations of the sacred texts. In 2011 the Fujimura Institute was established and launched the Four Qu4rtets, a collaboration between Fujimura, painter Bruce Herman, Duke theologian/pianist Jeremy Begbie, and Yale composer Christopher Theofanidis, based on T.S. Eliot’s Four Quartets. The exhibition will travel to Baylor, Duke, and Yale Universities, Gordon College and other institutions around the globe. 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!

 Listen to the conclusion of a conversation Michael had with Christianity Today executive editor, Andy Crouch. Andy is also a senior fellow of the International Justice Mission’s IJM Institute. He is the author of 3 books including“Playing God”, “Strong and Weak”and “Culture Making”.  His work and writing have been featured in The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, Time, and numerous Christian publications. For fans of hip-hop, his most impressive claim to fame may a shout out to him in Lecrae's 2014 single "Non-Fiction." For ten years he was a campus minister with InterVarsity Christian Fellowship at Harvard. He studied classics at Cornell University and received an M.Div. from Boston University School of Theology.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!

Joining Michael on the program is Andy Crouch. Andy is Andy is executive editor of Christianity Today, a senior fellow of the International Justice Mission’s IJM Institute. He is the author of 3 books including“Playing God”, “Strong and Weak”and “Culture Making”.  His work and writing have been featured in The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, Time, and numerous christian publications. For fans of hip-hop, his most impressive claim to fame may a shout out to him in Lecrae's 2014 single "Non-Fiction."  For ten years he was a campus minister with InterVarsity Christian Fellowship at Harvard. He studied classics at Cornell University and received an M.Div. from Boston University School of Theology. Michael and Andy discuss the topic of human flourishing and the paradox of what we’re meant to be versus how far we are from it & what stands in the way. 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!

On Episode 10 of Restoring the Soul, Michael talks with Chris and Anna Smith, Co-Founders of Restore One, a non-profit organization that offers restorative care to boys that have been sexually trafficked. Through Restore One, Anna and Chris have built The Anchor House, the first residential shelter in America dedicated exclusively to the care for sex ­trafficked boys ages 12­ -18.  Above - Anna Smith, Michael, Chris Smith, at Restore One's 2014 "Stand For One Gala."   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!