
The Deep Dive Spirituality Conversations Podcast
Interested in taking a deep dive into your spiritual and missional formation? Hosted by Dr. Brian Russell (Professor of Biblical Studies and Spiritual Coach), the Deep Dive Spirituality Conversations Podcast will explore the contours of spiritual formation, leadership, and missional practice in our present reality through solo episodes and interviews with leading practitioners and thinkers.
Latest episodes

Feb 29, 2024 • 45min
Episode 152 Wade Arp on Scriptural Imagination, Mission and Church Planting
In this week's episode, Brian interviews Wade Arp (D.Min) on how he uses Scriptural Imagination to keep him clear and empowered for mission and his passion for church planting and renewal.
Connect with Wade:
warp@kyumc.org
Books recommended by Wade:
Oswald Chambers, My Utmost for His Highest https://amzn.to/3ID7WTP
Mulholland, Invitation to a Journey: A Road Map for Spiritual Formation https://amzn.to/3uGo83i
Brian’s Website: www.brianrussellphd.com
Brian Russell’s Books:
Astonished by the Word: Reading Scripture for Deep Transformation https://amzn.to/3OKecg8
Centering Prayer: Sitting Quietly in God’s Presence Can Change Your Life https://amzn.to/2S0AcIZ
(re)Aligning with God: Reading Scripture for Church and World (Cascade): https://amzn.to/3PU5RqE
Invitation: A Bible Study to Begin With (Seedbed) https://my.seedbed.com/product/oneboo...
Connecting with Brian:
Website: www.brianrussellphd.com
Twitter: @briandrussell
Instagram: @yourprofessorforlife
Interested in coaching or inviting Brian to speak or teach for your community of faith or group? Email: deepdivespirituality@gmail.com
Links to Amazon are Affiliate links. If you purchase items through these links, Amazon returns a small percentage of the sale to Brian Russell. This supports the podcast and does not increase the price of the items you may choose to buy. Thank you for your support.

Feb 14, 2024 • 30min
Episode 151 Brian Russell and Mark Dunwoody Share Ep. 1 of their New "The Watering Hole: a Podcast for Coaches"
In this special episode of the Deep Dive Spirituality Conversations podcast, Brian shares Episode 1 of the new coaching podcast that he is co-hosting with Mark Dunwoody. Brian and Mark introduce the Watering Hole Coaching podcast by talking about what coaching is, how it's helped them, and how coaching can serve the world You can also subscribe to the audio feed wherever you listen to podcasts.
Search for The Watering Hole a podcast for Coaches wherever you listen to podcasts or go to its home: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/dyland243/episodes/Welcome-to-The-Watering-Hole-Podcast-e2fe69f
Connecting with Mark Dunwoody: https://healthyrhythms.org/
Email: mark@missiopartnerships.com
Connecting with Brian Russell : https://www.brianrussellphd.com/
Email brian@brianrussellphd.com
Books by Mark and Brian
Mark Dunwoody and Winfield Bevins, Healthy Rhythms for Leaders: Cultivating Soul Care in Uncertain Times (Exponential, 2021): https://amzn.to/3SIntaz
Brian Russell, Centering Prayer: Sitting Quietly in God’s Presence Can Change Your Life (Paraclete Press, 2021): https://amzn.to/3vZSEp5
____ Astonished by the Word: Reading Scripture for Deep Transformation (Invite Press, 2023): https://amzn.to/4bkj0SN
____(re)Aligning with God: Reading Scripture for Church and World (Cascade Press, 2016): https://amzn.to/3HNOint
Links to Amazon are Affiliate links. If you purchase items through these links, Amazon returns a small percentage of the sale to us.This supports the podcast and does not increase the price of the items you may choose to buy. Thank you for your support.

Feb 10, 2024 • 31min
Episode 150 Brian Russell on Learning to Walk the Path: Mastery, Learning and Spiritual Growth
In this episode, Brian Russell reflects on the process of true mastery: learning to walk the path rather than focusing on knowing the path or destination. You’ll find deep wisdom on how to learn and grow as the key to deep fulfillment and in becoming the person God created you to be.
Brian’s Website: www.brianrussellphd.com
Books Recommended by Brian:
George Leonard, Mastery: The Keys to Success and Long-Term Fulfillment https://amzn.to/3tPw9lU
NT Wright, Into the Heart of Romans https://amzn.to/48upLPW
Brian Russell’s Books
Astonished by the Word: Reading Scripture for Deep Transformation https://amzn.to/3OKecg8
Centering Prayer: Sitting Quietly in God’s Presence Can Change Your Life https://amzn.to/2S0AcIZ
(re)Aligning with God: Reading Scripture for Church and World (Cascade): https://amzn.to/3PU5RqE
Invitation: A Bible Study to Begin With (Seedbed) https://my.seedbed.com/product/oneboo...
Connecting with Brian:
Website: www.brianrussellphd.com
Twitter: @briandrussell
Instagram: @yourprofessorforlife
Interested in coaching or inviting Brian to speak or teach for your community of faith or group?
Email: deepdivespirituality@gmail.com
Links to Amazon are Affiliate links. If you purchase items through these links, Amazon returns a small percentage of the sale to Brian Russell. This supports the podcast and does not increase the price of the items you may choose to buy. Thank you for your support.

Jan 31, 2024 • 28min
Episode 149 Brian Russell on Fear, Courage and Faith: The Role of Fear in the Spiritual Life
In this episode, Brian Russell reflects on the role of fear in the spiritual life. He takes us on a deep dive into what it really means to fear God and why this actually frees us from the common fears that bind us and hold us back.
Brian’s Website: www.Brianrussellphd.com
Books Recommended by Brian:
Susan Jeffers, Feel the Fear... and Do It Anyway: Dynamic Techniques for Turning Fear, Indecision, and Anger into Power, Action, and Love https://amzn.to/3Opubje
Brian Russell’s Books
Astonished by the Word: Reading Scripture for Deep Transformation https://amzn.to/3OKecg8
Centering Prayer: Sitting Quietly in God’s Presence Can Change Your Life https://amzn.to/2S0AcIZ
(re)Aligning with God: Reading Scripture for Church and World (Cascade): https://amzn.to/3PU5RqE
Invitation: A Bible Study to Begin With (Seedbed) https://my.seedbed.com/product/oneboo...
Connecting with Brian:
Website: www.brianrussellphd.com
Twitter: @briandrussell
Instagram: @yourprofessorforlife
Interested in coaching or inviting Brian to speak or teach for your community of faith or group? Email: deepdivespirituality@gmail.com
Links to Amazon are Affiliate links. If you purchase items through these links, Amazon returns a small percentage of the sale to Brian Russell. This supports the podcast and does not increase the price of the items you may choose to buy. Thank you for your support.

Jan 10, 2024 • 36min
Episode 148 Brian Russell on Key Spiritual Growth Lessons from 2023
In this episode, Brian Russell shares his key insights from 2023 including his top books from 2023. Listen in to his discussion of DONE, spontaneous bursts of pure joy, best books, transformational teaching, how to walk the path, and owning one's personal health.
Brian’s Website: www.Brianrussellphd.com
Books Recommended by Brian:
Scott Galloway, The Four: The Hidden DNA of Amazon, Apple, Facebook and Google https://amzn.to/3RTt5Nx
Mike Isaac, Super Pumped: The Battle for Uber https://amzn.to/3NX4er6
George Leonard, Mastery: The Keys to Success and Long-Term Fulfillment https://amzn.to/3tPw9lU
Matthew Lynch, Flood and Fury: Old Testament Violence and the Shalom of God https://amzn.to/47tLuGv
J.R. Woodward, The Scandal of Leadership https://amzn.to/3HfYrJo
NT Wright, Into the Heart of Romans https://amzn.to/48upLPW
Brian Russell’s Books
Astonished by the Word: Reading Scripture for Deep Transformation https://amzn.to/3OKecg8
Centering Prayer: Sitting Quietly in God’s Presence Can Change Your Life https://amzn.to/2S0AcIZ
(re)Aligning with God: Reading Scripture for Church and World (Cascade): https://amzn.to/3PU5RqE
Invitation: A Bible Study to Begin With (Seedbed) https://my.seedbed.com/product/oneboo...
Connecting with Brian:
Website: www.brianrussellphd.com
Twitter: @briandrussell
Instagram: @yourprofessorforlife
Interested in coaching or inviting Brian to speak or teach for your community of faith or group?
Email: deepdivespirituality@gmail.com
Links to Amazon are Affiliate links. If you purchase items through these links, Amazon returns a small percentage of the sale to Brian Russell. This supports the podcast and does not increase the price of the items you may choose to buy. Thank you for your support.

Dec 7, 2023 • 47min
Episode 147 Teresa Yerkes on How Christian Meditation Can Help You Grow in Love for God and Neighbor
In this week’s episode, Teresa Yerkes of the Christian Meditation Center shares about the practice of Christian Meditation and its role in the spiritual life.
Teresa Yerkes is the Founder of Christian Meditation Center, has been a Christian since 1983 and has practiced Christian meditation since 2000. She is the author of three books, Come Closer: The Practice of Christian Meditation, God Within You: The Case for Christian Meditation, and Making Love: The Spiritual Act of Love. She teaches and leads Christian meditation training and facilitates sessions. She is a public speaker, facilitates book clubs, and leads retreats. Teresa is a Certified Lay Speaker and Lay Counselor. She brings nearly forty years of her own personal discovery, along with highly specialized spiritual direction training provided by the Shalem Institute.
www.Christianmeditationcenter.org
Teresa’s books:
Come Closer: The Practice of Christian Meditation https://amzn.to/4aazrRa
God Within You: The Case for Christian Meditation https://amzn.to/3NdwN2U
Making Love: The Spiritual Act of Love https://amzn.to/3RxagAE
Books Recommended by Teresa:
Thomas Keating, Open Mind, Open Heart https://amzn.to/41d3fZc
——Invitation to Love: The Way of Christian Contemplation https://amzn.to/3R9SKB9
Teresa of Avila, Interior Castle https://amzn.to/46Mzkbl
Schucman, A Course in Miracles, https://amzn.to/3Td9Kck
Brian’s Website: www.Brianrussellphd.com
Brian Russell’s Books
Astonished by the Word: Reading Scripture for Deep Transformation https://amzn.to/3OKecg8
Centering Prayer: Sitting Quietly in God’s Presence Can Change Your Life https://amzn.to/2S0AcIZ
(re)Aligning with God: Reading Scripture for Church and World (Cascade): https://amzn.to/3PU5RqE
Invitation: A Bible Study to Begin With (Seedbed) https://my.seedbed.com/product/oneboo...
Connecting with Brian:
Website: www.brianrussellphd.com
Twitter: @briandrussell
Instagram: @yourprofessorforlife
Interested in coaching or inviting Brian to speak or teach for your community of faith or group?
Email: deepdivespirituality@gmail.com
Links to Amazon are Affiliate links. If you purchase items through these links, Amazon returns a small percentage of the sale to Brian Russell. This supports the podcast and does not increase the price of the items you may choose to buy. Thank you for your support.

Oct 27, 2023 • 45min
Episode 146 Dr. Ken Schenck on Holiness, the Future of Christian Education and AI
Dr Ken Schenck takes us on a deep dive into the holiness message for the 21st century, the present/future of Christian Education (and the role technology plays in making it even better), and how AI can enhance our work.
Connect with Ken: Blog: http://kenschenck.blogspot.com/
Campus https://www.campusedu.com/
See Ken’s books on Amazon: https://amzn.to/3Mjg2TQ
Books Recommend by Ken:
Joel Green, Recovering the Scandal of the Cross https://amzn.to/3FTUU2V
––, Seized by Truth: Reading the Bible as Scripture https://amzn.to/3Mlv3UV
Jonathan Haidt, The Righteous Mind: Why Good People are Divided by Politics and Religion https://amzn.to/45X6a9i
NT Wright, Surprised by Hope https://amzn.to/495FHZX
Brian Russell’s Books Astonished by the Word: Reading Scripture for Deep Transformation https://amzn.to/3OKecg8
Centering Prayer: Sitting Quietly in God’s Presence Can Change Your Life https://amzn.to/2S0AcIZ
(re)Aligning with God: Reading Scripture for Church and World (Cascade): https://amzn.to/3PU5RqE
Invitation: A Bible Study to Begin With (Seedbed) https://my.seedbed.com/product/oneboo...
Connecting with Brian: Website: www.brianrussellphd.com
Twitter: @briandrussell
Instagram: @yourprofessorforlife
Interested in coaching or inviting Brian to speak or teach for your community of faith or group?
Email: deepdivespirituality@gmail.com
Links to Amazon are Affiliate links. If you purchase items through these links, Amazon returns a small percentage of the sale to Brian Russell. This supports the podcast and does not increase the price of the items you may choose to buy. Thank you for your support.

Oct 19, 2023 • 19min
Episode 145 Brian Russell on Reading Scripture for Conversion to the Heart of God
Brian Russell talks about how to read Scripture for conversion to the heart of God. Every reading of the text offers each us us an opportunity to align or realign with God's heart. We must always be the first converts to our interpretation.
Read more in my books Astonished by the Word: Reading Scripture for Deep Transformation (2023) https://amzn.to/402BlOP
and (re)Aligning with God: Reading Scripture for Church and World (2016, Kindle only $2.99) https://amzn.to/3Mu1gtx
Here are some questions for reflection:
Where do I struggle to align or realign my life with the message of Jesus?
What are the blindspots in which I’m not the first convert to the texts that I study?
Where do I need to be reminded to put into action the clear teaching of Scripture?
What is really holding me back from living out the Word?
Connecting with Brian:
Website: www.brianrussellphd.com
Twitter: @briandrussell
Instagram: @yourprofessorforlife
Interested in coaching or inviting Brian to speak or teach for your community of faith or group?
Email: deepdivespirituality@gmail.com
Links to Amazon are Affiliate links. If you purchase items through these links, Amazon returns a small percentage of the sale to Brian Russell. This supports the podcast and does not increase the price of the items you may choose to buy. Thank you for your support.

Oct 4, 2023 • 17min
Episode 144 Brian Russell on How to Live Out of Your True Identity as a Person Loved by God
In this week's deep dive, Brian Russell shares tactics and tools for living moment by moment out of our true identity as men and women loved by God. He describes a triad of values that create a container for our life.
Interested in more?
Check out this video on creating a rule of life: How a Rule of Life Helps You to Grow in Love for God, Neighbor, and Self https://youtu.be/r98dPPZARH0
Brian Russell’s Books
Astonished by the Word: Reading Scripture for Deep Transformation https://amzn.to/3OKecg8
Centering Prayer: Sitting Quietly in God’s Presence Can Change Your Life https://amzn.to/2S0AcIZ
(re)Aligning with God: Reading Scripture for Church and World (Cascade): https://amzn.to/3PU5RqE
Invitation: A Bible Study to Begin With (Seedbed) https://my.seedbed.com/product/oneboo...
Connecting with Brian:
Website: www.brianrussellphd.com
Twitter: @briandrussell
Instagram: @yourprofessorforlife
Interested in coaching or inviting Brian to speak or teach for your community of faith or group?
Email: deepdivespirituality@gmail.com
Links to Amazon are Affiliate links. If you purchase items through these links, Amazon returns a small percentage of the sale to Brian Russell. This supports the podcast and does not increase the price of the items you may choose to buy. Thank you for your support.

Sep 26, 2023 • 28min
Episode 143 Change theology: Jesus’ Core Message of (re)Aligning with God’s Kingdom
In this episode, Brian Russell unpacks Jesus’ initial proclamation: “Repent for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” Listen in and discover what Jesus’ call for a radical change in life and perspective means for us as 21st century Christ followers.
To learn even more check out Brian's book (re)Aligning with God: Reading Scripture for Church and World (Cascade): https://amzn.to/3PU5RqE (I recommend buying the much cheaper Kindle version).
Brian Russell’s Other Books
Astonished by the Word: Reading Scripture for Deep Transformation https://amzn.to/3OKecg8
Centering Prayer: Sitting Quietly in God’s Presence Can Change Your Life https://amzn.to/2S0AcIZ
Invitation: A Bible Study to Begin With (Seedbed) https://my.seedbed.com/product/oneboo...
Connecting with Brian:
Website: www.brianrussellphd.com
Twitter: @briandrussell
Instagram: @yourprofessorforlife
Interested in coaching or inviting Brian to speak or teach for your community of faith or group?
Email: deepdivespirituality@gmail.com
Links to Amazon are Affiliate links. If you purchase items through these links, Amazon returns a small percentage of the sale to Brian Russell. This supports the podcast and does not increase the price of the items you may choose to buy. Thank you for your support.
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