Restoring the Soul with Michael John Cusick

Steve Siler is a prolific songwriter who has to his credit 4 GMA Dove Awards and 9# singles. He is the founder and director of Music for the Soul in Nashville, TN, and is the author of Music for the Soul, Healing for the Heart. In Part I of our 2-part interview, a few of the vtopics we discuss include:Steve's embarrasment over accepting an assignment to write a song for Chippendales male strip club.He struggles with how much of Christian music addresses issues on the surface of life and how there are too many happy endings.How Music for the Soul speaks to people in life's most difficult circumstances.This episode features the full length song, "Chaos of the Heart", written for those grieving the suicide of a loved one. 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!

Welcome to the Season 2, Episode 3. Today you’ll be listening to Part 2 of a 2 part conversation with composer, arranger, producer, singer, songwriter, guitarist, and keyboardist, Rob Mathes. Rob is a Grammy-nominated, Tony-nominated artist who won an Emmy award for his musical direction of the Kennedy Center Honors.In Part 2, a few of the topics Rob and I discuss include:How Rob’s song, “Although It Is the Night” was inspired by St. John of The Cross’s poem “Dark Night of the Soul”Listen to the song of the same name played in its entirety.Why great music mixes the sacred and the profane, “the gears grinding and the heavens singing.”How Rob’s train engineer grandfather—a man of deep faith—influenced his life and faith and became the inspiration behind Rob's magnum opus, “Evening Train.”Understand why Rob feels it’s important to “poke holes” at aspects of Christianity that are seemingly crazy.Follow these links to watch videos of Rob as musical director for the Kennedy Center Honors:Led Zeppelin – “Stairway To Heaven”Aretha Franklin – “You Make Me Feel (Like A Natural Woman)”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!

Rob Mathes is Emmy award-winning, Grammy nominated, Tony nominated music producer, composer, arranger, singer, songwriter, keyboardist, and guitarist. The list of names that Rob has worked with is extraordinary--including production and songwriting collaborations with Sting on his last three albums, and serving as musical director on Sting's “The Last Ship: World Tour with the Royal Philharomic". As an arranger Rob has written orchestrations for artists all over the stylistic spectrum—from Jay Z, Elton John, Bruce Springsteen, Stevie Wonder, Tony Bennett, Yo Yo Ma, Luciano Pavaorotti, and Panic at the Disco.In Part One of Michael's interview with Rob, some of the content discussed includes:Why Rob feels closer to God listening to Bach or Mahler than a Sunday morning sermon.How Tony Bennet insisted Rob immediately go out and purchase what he considered to be the greatest record of all time.What it's been like to collaborate with Stevie Wonder, Sting, Yo Yo Ma, and other renowned artists.What lies behind truly great songwriting and musical production.Complete tracks of Rob’s music, including “Christ Came Back and Trashed the Cathedral” and “William the Angel. 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!

Jill Phillips is a Nashville based singer/songwriter whose guitar based folk-rock sound blends deep and penetrating lyrics with an ever fresh take on the joys and sorrows of life. Jill’s debut album, self titled “Jill Phillips” was released in 1999 and produced by Grammy-winning songwriter, Wayne Kirkpatrick. Jill currently performs and records as an independent artist who just released her tenth album, “Lead Me Home.”  Visit Jill’s website at www.jillphillips.com.A few of the topics Jill shares in this interview include:The impetus behind her newest album of hymns and traditional gospel songs.The Cvil Rights history and suffering beneath several of the songs on her album.What it means to live awake and alive and how Jill has been impacted by the practice of spiritual direction.Featuring two songs from Jill’s newest album: "Great Is Thy Faithfulness" & "Keep Your Eyes On the Prize"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!

As we come to the end of our first podcast season, I am so thankful for the opportunity to share the Restoring the Soul podcast with you--our listeners. As a way of saying thank you, I’m sharing this podcast which includes a special Christmas song from my friends Andy Gullahorn and Jill Phillips. I’m also sharing a message I recently gave at Denver Seminary student chapel called, “Less Is More” about our need to be still and rest in what God has already done in Christ. It’s a very timely for the often hectic holiday season.  For those of you who may be wondering, Season 2 of Restoring the Soul will premier on February 7th, 2017. You can look forward to more in depth interviews and several fresh voices about how we flourish from the inside out. Until then, many blessings to you through the Christmas season and into 2017. From my family to yours. Michael 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!

Gordon MacDonald served for over forty years as a pastor and was President of World Relief, InterVarsity Christian Fellowship, and now serves as Chancellor at Denver Seminary. He is an author, speaker, and teacher whose books include Ordering Your Private World, Rebuilding Your Broken World; Renewing your Spiritual Passion, Mid Course Correction, and A Resilient Life, Going Deep, Shoring Up the Foundations of Leadership. He writes regularly for Leadership Journal and also writes a column which appears on the LeadershipJournal.net website.Gordon and Gail MacDonald have been married 53 years and live in Concord, New Hampshire. Their great satisfaction is in their two married children and five grandchildren. The MacDonalds are also hikers, bikers, kayakers, and voracious readers.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!

Gordon MacDonald served for over forty years as a pastor and was President of World Relief, InterVarsity Christian Fellowship, and now serves as Chancellor at Denver Seminary. He is an author, speaker, and teacher whose books include Ordering Your Private World, Rebuilding Your Broken World; Renewing your Spiritual Passion, Mid Course Correction, and A Resilient Life, Going Deep, Shoring Up the Foundations of Leadership. He writes regularly for Leadership Journal and also writes a column which appears on the LeadershipJournal.net website.Gordon and Gail MacDonald have been married 53 years and live in Concord, New Hampshire. Their great satisfaction is in their two married children and five grandchildren. The MacDonalds are also hikers, bikers, kayakers, and voracious readers.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 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!