This Undivided Life: Recent Episodes
Troy McLaughlin
This Undivided Life Podcast will give you real advice to help make life whole again. Join Troy Mclaughlin, co-host Scott Perkins and guests as we talk real life. We bypass simple platitudes and the generic “just love yourself” gibberish, and dive headlong into the challenges pulling us a million different directions. Life is fractured; from your calendars chocked full of commitments, to the black hole of entertainment in the palm of your hand, and the constant buzz of iPhone alerts. For most of us, the hum of anxiety is always present. You struggle to keep up with life’s frenetic pace, social media’s comparison game, or the far-fetched promises of our consumer culture. You feel divided, out of sorts, maybe even broken because of past experiences. Here’s the good news, we’ll talk about ways to combat those feelings; things you can do, habits to break or create, and practices to put in place. If you’re looking for gurus, quick fixes, or hacks, this is not the show for you. If you’re looking for fellow sojourners, people on a similar journey, you’ve found your show.
Chris Morris is a passionate mental health advocate dedicated to promoting understanding of mental health issues within the church. Because of a lifelong struggle with depression and suicidality, Chris became committed to breaking down the stigma surrounding mental health and encouraging others to seek after holistic health. We talk about his book Resilient and Redeemed: Lessons about Suicidality and Depression from the Psych Ward
As a writer and speaker, Chris has shared his personal story and insights with audiences across the country, inspiring many individuals to take control of their own health, break free from poor theological teaching placed upon them, and seek the support they need. He has published several books on mental health and his work has been featured in a number of media outlets, including CrossWalk, The Mighty, and Fathom Magazine.
Chris is deeply committed to creating a more compassionate and supportive world and church for individuals living with mental health issues. Through his writing and speaking, he is a powerful voice for change and a beacon of hope for those in need.
David Tensen is passionate about helping individuals, families and organisations thrive. His latest book is Decenter Everything: The Unconventional Approach to Eldering in an Age of Immaturity.
He brings together a unique fusion of experience across business, leadership, creativity, emotional health and spiritual development. David and wife Natalie have three children and live on the Sunshine Coast in Queensland, Australia.
David is a PhD Candidate, exploring small business education and has over 30 years of workplace experience, specialising in non-for-profit organisations.
Today, when he’s not researching or working as an Aged Care Chaplain, David spends his time writing, volunteering, playing boardgames, collecting typewriters and spending time with family and friends.
Dr. Charles C. Daniels, Jr. is a Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker (LICSW) with years of leadership experience. He is the founder and Chief Executive Officer of Fathers’ UpLift Inc., the nation’s first mental health and substance abuse treatment facility for fathers and families, helping fathers become and remain emotionally stable for their children. He is also a Visiting Research Scientist at Yale University. Dr. Daniels has spent the last decade providing therapy to Black men, helping them overcome the effects of toxic masculinity, racism, and oppression.
He's also the author of Present:The Crisis of American Fatherhood and the Power of Showing Up
Will Anderson is a senior editor at Waterbrook Multnomah. He’s also a pastor who currently serves at Southlands Church Santa Ana.
He grew up in Phoenix, AZ, where he cultivated a love for writing—thanks to the sweltering summers which kept him inside, as well as his parents’ refusal to buy him a video game console for the duration of his adolescence.
He earned his B.A. in journalism at Biola University, and his M.A. in New Testament from Talbot School of Theology. Will has also taught theology and Bible classes at Woodcrest Christian High School and Cottonwood College.
Will writes regularly for The Gospel Coalition, Dwell Bible App, and Preaching Today’s Craft and Character podcast. He’s done freelance work for many churches and organizations, including The Chosen TV series. As an editor, he loves helping pastors write books that edify the church.
Britney Higgs along with her husband Sammy Higgs founded the Her Campaign providing safe spaces for human trafficking survivors as well as emergency stabilization programs—which provide a vital bridge between rescue and lasting freedom—offering safe housing and holistic care survivors need to reclaim their independence. When survivors have a safe place to heal, they not only step into the future they deserve but also contribute to the healing and strengthening of their communities. Because when we help HER heal, grow, and find purpose again, the impact extends far beyond one life—it creates a ripple effect of restoration and renewal.
Sarah Boyd is a writer, child and adolescent development expert, and founder of educational company 'Resilient Little Hearts'. We discuss her new book is Turn Down the Noise: A practical guide to building an emotionally healthy family in a chronically overstimulated world.
Sarah holds a Masters degree in Educational Psychology and a Diploma in the Neuroscience of Leadership. A native Australian, who lived in California with her husband and two children has moved back to Austraila.As she says now her heart has two homes, Austraila and California.
Lael Paul Johnson is a Professional Salmon & Steelhead Guide who brings anglers on several of world class rivers such as, The Hoh, Humtpulips, Clearwater, Satsop, Wynoochee, Skagit & Skykomish River. These rivers feature beautiful mountain views, lush rain forests, emerald green waters and the peace and serenity that you can only find on Washington’s Olympic Peninsula. He has the passion and experience to take you places some can only dream of and make them accessible to you while fishing for Salmon & Steelhead. Each trip is specifically engineered for the clients he has on board that day whether it be old or young, male or female. The main objective of each trip is to provide his clients with a picture of a lifetime!
What if the apostles were alive today? What if they had social media, podcasts, and a front-row seat to the chaos of modern Christianity? What would they say? Buckle up. Gospel Zero: Reclaiming the Radical Message of Grace is here to shake the religious world like an over-caffeinated prophet. Bestselling author Andrew Farley and renowned storyteller John Lynch echo the voices of God’s messengers in the twenty-first century—delivering fiery, blistering, and hilarious letters to the modern church. Think The Screwtape Letters meets The Shack—but bolder, sharper, and completely unfiltered. With wit that bites and grace that heals, Farley and Lynch bulldoze legalism, torch religious guilt, and unleash the shocking, scandalous, untamed gospel of Jesus. This book will infuriate and inspire. It will shatter sacred cows and spark righteous laughter. It will make you rethink everything you thought you knew about faith, forgiveness, and freedom. If you’ve ever felt like Christianity has lost its way—buried under a mountain of rules, rituals, and recycled sermons—this is your wake-up call. The apostles have something to say, and they aren’t pulling punches. This isn’t just a book. It’s a breakthrough. A seismic shift in what Christianity was meant to be. Are you ready? ANDREW FARLEY is quietly helping millions of people discover the freedom and transforming power of God’s grace. He serves as lead pastor of The Grace Church, a nondenominational church in Dallas, Texas, and is the creator of BibleQuestions.com. Andrew has written several books, including The Naked Gospel, Twisted Scripture, and 101 Bible Questions. The Grace Message, Andrew’s nationwide live call-in radio program, airs every weeknight at 8pm Eastern on Sirius XM and on stations across North America. Get encouraged in God's grace at AndrewFarley.org. JOHN LYNCH is a dynamic speaker, author, and influential thought leader renowned for his captivating style and way with words. As the founder of John Lynch Speaks, he inspires audiences at conferences, workshops, and seminars around the country and beyond. John is the co-author of The Cure and TrueFaced, and author of On My Worst Day, as well as co-author of Bo's Café. His writings emphasize authenticity and grace, complementing his dramatic presentations that combine humor with profound insights. Find out more at JohnLynchSpeaks.com.
Relationships can feel like a constant struggle. How can we recognize and overcome behaviors that leave us wounded, broken, and exhausted? One Choice Away from Change helps us identify dysfunctional life patterns that cause us to repeat the same mistakes in relationships, fall into the same bad habits at work, or argue about the same things with those we love. Drawing on their own story of healing, Justin and Trisha Davis offer practical encouragement for:
- Understanding the choices we make that can sabotage us
- Not letting the past dictate the present
- Leaving behind our go-to sins and dysfunctions
- Moving forward in the hope of who God calls us to be
You aren’t as stuck as you think you are. In fact, you are just one decision away from breaking the cycles that keep you living in fear and shame. Experience the power of God’s grace … one choice at a time.
David Zahl was born in New York City and brought up on the East Coast and in Europe, David graduated with honors from Georgetown University in 2001. He then served for five years as a para-church youth minister in New England before starting Mockingbird Ministries in 2007, an organization devoted to connecting the Christian faith with the realities of everyday life in fresh and down-to-earth ways. He remains its executive director today. David is also a licensed lay preacher in the Diocese of Virginia. He is the author of A Mess of Help: From the Crucified Soul of Rock N’ Roll, Seculosity: How Career, Parenting, Technlogy, Food, Politics, and Romance Became Our New Religion and What To Do About It and co-author of Law and Gospel: A Theology for Sinners (and Saints). His most recent book is Low Anthropology: The Unlikely Key to a Gracious View of Others (and Yourself). He and his wife Cate have three boys.
Ian Morgan Cron is a bestselling author, speaker, trained psychotherapist, songwriter, and Episcopal priest, but he may be best known for popularizing the Enneagram. The Enneagram is a personality typing system identifying nine types of people and how they relate to one another and the world. His popular Enneagram primer, The Road Back to You gave fresh language and interest in this uncannily accurate tool. His latest book, The Story of You, helps readers go a step further, using Enneagram wisdom to uncover and rewrite their own false narratives so they can live more fully. Ian enjoys sharing about the Enneagram with audiences of all sizes because of its power for igniting personal growth, and how it can enrich their personal and professional lives. Ian and his wife, Anne, live in Nashville, Tennessee.
Rev. Chris Lee is a young vicar who has taken the internet by storm. With an ever growing online presence, Chris has over 170k followers on Instagram. He helps and inspires them every day with his 60-second sermons, full of bite-sized wisdom for busy people. Chris has over 350 million views on the videos he appears in on YouTube.
Chris’s new book, Know You Are Beloved: Press Pause, Breathe Deeply, and Be Known by God, seeks to refocus you on simple yet profound truths of the Christian faith. Each chapter ends with a place to breathe deeply and sit in silence, offering a welcome opportunity to calm your spirit and turn your gaze to God. The book will take you into a deeper place with your faith, more secure and more intimate.
Hannah Brencher is a writer, TED Talk speaker, mental health advocate and author of three books: Fighting Forward, Come Matter Here and If You Find This Letter. Hannah and her work have been featured in publications such as The Guardian, Oprah.com, Glamour, Cosmo and more. She is also the founder of The World Needs More Love Letters, a global organization using the power of social media to write and mail letters to strangers in need worldwide. Find out more at: www.hannahbrenchercreative.com
Bryan Crum spent a decade as a hospice chaplain. His time at the bedside of dying people gave him a front-row view into how God designed us. He discovered that most people felt they never reached their full potential. Their longings and regrets led to incredible insights about what’s most often missed—the power of love. Filled with memorable stories and timeless takeaways, Neighbor, Love Yourself reveals how understanding our inner value changes the way we live on the outside. Before we can truly love our neighbors—or anyone else—we must learn to love ourselves as God intended. If you’ve doubted your design, felt unfulfilled, or are unaware of the divine features inside you, this book is like finding a lost owner’s manual to your inner workings—one that invites you to take joy in your pricelessness instead of wondering about your worth.
Kimberly is a professional helper and artist completing her doctorate in community care and counseling. She is a professor, writer, editor, and counselor. During her critical illness in 2021-2022, she began dreaming about The Way Back to Ourselves and founded it in August of 2022. She is an award-winning poet, and her writing has been published in Ekstasis, Fathom, Truly Co, Radix, Calla Press, Humana Obscura, The Dewdrop, and many others. Her debut poetry collection, Of Wings & Dirt, which is inspired by her health journey, infertility, and miraculous motherhood, will come out in April 2024 with Wipf & Stock. She is also at work on her next poetry collection, a devotional, a nonfiction book on suffering and healing, and a nonfiction work about parenting and leading this new generation toward wholeness, which is the research and passion project that inspired this community. It, too, is titled The Way Back to Ourselves.
You can find Kimberly on Instagram @thewayback2ourselves and on Substack at thewayback2ourselves.substack.com. She writes about faith, suffering, mental health, community, the writer’s life, and more—all with the call to give authentic hope and encouragement to those who are trying to find their way back, too.
Ashlee Eiland is a thought leader, writer, and Bible teacher who exists to join in God's redemptive work here on Earth. Her work has one purpose: to help humanity build bridges back to the truth of who God is and between one another in whole and healing relationships. Ashlee formerly served as Co-Lead Pastor at Mars Hill Bible Church in West Michigan. She and her husband live in Grand Rapids with their three kids.
Say Good is a timely, thought-provoking book that contains practical insights, empowering action steps, and a solid framework for using your voice with purpose and impact. Embark on a transformative journey of honing both your words and your heart—for good.
There's no escaping it: everyone experiences seasons of pain and despair. In 2019, when Amber Haines resigned from her position as church curate and walked out the church doors for the last time, she entered her own season of pain and despair. That season taught her--and her husband, Seth Haines--that the journey toward hope starts with recognizing "the deep down things." In The Deep Down Things, Amber and Seth point to a simple truth: even in the darkest times, there are tangible signs of hope all around us. The authors demonstrate how tasting, touching, feeling, holding, and participating in these tangible acts of hope picks us up, builds our strength, and moves us into beauty, even in times of despair. They invite readers to participate with those signs of hope and thereby experience the divine love of God, even in the struggle of their everyday lives. A lifeline for those who desperately need it, this book helps readers overcome despair, find hope, and spread that hope to an aching world.
Sergeant Mark Tappan and his K9 companion, Mattis, have a highly engaged and devoted fan base of over five million social media followers.
This down-to-earth duo never anticipated winning A&E’s Top Dog, fulfilling countless on-going media requests, and interacting with an ever-increasing social media fan base.
Although, it’s Mark and Mattis’ special bond and likeability as a team that has their audience clamoring for more.
K9 Mattis is one of the most decorated police K9s of all time with over 200 arrests and over 2 million in cash seized and even has a Purple Heart.
Justin is an author, speaker, and pastor and has dedicated his life to helping people experience life change through the power of authenticity. He co-founded RefineUs Ministries, where he shares his personal story with honesty and transparency, inspiring others to find the courage to do the same.
Justin is the co-author of the bestselling book, Beyond Ordinary: When a Good Marriage Just Isn't Good Enough, which he wrote alongside his wife, Trisha.
He is a sought-after speaker for numerous conferences, churches, and leadership events, inspiring audiences with a message of hope and transformation through the grace of Jesus.
Justin loves to spend time with his family. He enjoys playing basketball, indulging in the Great Wall of Chocolate at PF Chang's, and taking long walks on the beach with his wife and kids. Justin and Trisha live in Indianapolis, IN, and have five kids.
Greg Atkinson is an entrepreneur, bestselling author, international keynote speaker, leadership and life coach, and business consultant. Greg Atkinson is the Founder and CEO of Greg Atkinson Consulting, LLC, The Kindness Group, Worship Impressions, the First Impressions Conference, and EntreChurch – The Entrepreneurial Church Conference, as well as the Co-Founder of the Social Media Church Conference. Greg is the Founder of EntreDreams and hosts masterminds and retreats. Greg is the Charlotte Chapter President for Truth At Work. Greg is a member of the Forbes Coaching Council, The American Association of Christian Counselors, and ICCI (International Christian Coaching Institute).
Greg has worked with organizations of all stages and sizes, including some of the largest and fastest-growing churches in the country, as well as with businesses and non-profits such as Josh McDowell Ministries. Greg has been featured in Forbes, the Wall Street Journal, Christianity Today, and on CBS, FOX, and NBC. Greg is an Alliance Partner with the Rukes Search Group and serves on the Advisory Board of Full Strength Network. Greg has been in organizational leadership for three decades. Stay connected to Greg and his work here.
Brian Heasley is the International Prayer Director for 24-7 Prayer, and he also works at at Lambeth Palace as International Ecumenical Lead for Thy Kingdom Come.
Before this, Brian and his wife Tracy pioneered the work of 24-7 Prayer in Ibiza, Spain, where they developed rhythms of prayer and mission. Brian’s book, Gatecrashing, tells the story of 24-7 Prayer in Ibiza. Brian is originally from Belfast, Northern Ireland, and now lives in England. Brian and Tracy have two adult sons.
Farrell is a mother of six, a spiritual blogger and an author of two works of fiction: Alma Gloria and the Olive Tree and The Angel and the Raven and a recent collection of prayers entitled, The Pocket Cathedral. Her latest book is Soulfull: A Weekly Devotional to Nourish the Mind, Body, and Spirit. Farrell holds a Masters of Art Business from Sotheby’s, London and is currently completing her Masters of Divinity at Vanderbilt University. She is a part-time minister of pastoral care at Woodmont Christian Church in Nashville and her heart is forever committed to raising funds and awareness for kids with cancer in honor of her son.
In all of her writing you will find a thread of hope, healing and redemption!
Her great joy is found barefoot and making mischief in the kitchen with her family and friends, eating a croissant in Paris or hiking in the Tetons!
Scott and Troy pick there books of the year for 2023. It's our 3 favorites for six in total
Austin Carty joined Boulevard Baptist Church from First Baptist Church of Corbin, KY in 2019. Austin holds an undergraduate degree in literature from High Point University (B.A.), a Master of Divinity (M.Div) from Wake Forest University, and a Doctor of Ministry (D.Min.) from Emory University. He is the author of The Pastor's Bookshelf: Why Reading Matters for Ministry, which received the 2023 Christianity Today Award of Merit and was named the Book of the Year by Preaching magazine.
Austin is married to April and together they have four children, Ada, Julianna, Witt, and Ben.
Steve Veasey: Artist, Writer, and Mental Health Advocate as he writes on his website ... is an excellent illustrator and author. did we mention he wrote a book?- you should read it. He grew up in British Columbia and lives there still. he enjoys long walks on the mountainside, staring out at lakes and drinking lots of Starbucks (typical BC things). and just in case you missed it-He also likes to draw.
The people who live with him think he's pretty great. so do the people he works with. maybe you should get in touch with him, and you'll think he's pretty great too.
Tommy Brown is a pastor with a B.A. in Pastoral Ministry and Masters degrees in Divinity and Management. As a contemplative teacher, he seeks to connect the dots between Scripture, God’s deep work in the human soul, and the patterns of our ordinary lives. He is the author of The Seven Money Types (Zondervan, '17) and The Ache for Meaning (NavPress, September '23).
Rich, a native of San Jose, California, studied music at The Phil Mattson School, and earned his bachelor’s and master’s from Jessup University. Over the years, he has worked as a church musician and ministry leader. He writes, consults, and speaks about the intersection of creativity, faith and leadership.
His new book, MINDBLOWN: Unlock Your Creative Genius by Bridging Science and Magic (2022), deconstructs creativity and the creative process. His first book, The Six Hats of the Worship Leader (2014), has helped thousands of church musicians and has appeared on the reading list at several universities. As a freelance writer, Rich writes here on RKblog.com, and several other prominent sites and has traveled throughout the US speaking to leaders and creatives.
As a musician and songwriter, Rich is part of A Beautiful Liturgy, a unique collaboration with his daughter, Emilie Kirkpatrick. They released a five-song EP in 2016, a Christmas single and music video “Glory Be to God” in 2018, and a single and music video “In the Silence” in 2020. In March of 2012, Rich released a five-song EP titled “Drink The Divine.” His works are published by A Beautiful Liturgy Music (ASCAP), Epic Stache Music (ASCAP), and administered by his company Tehilla Music.
Rich loves a good espresso and deep conversations with friends, new and old. He lives in the East Bay Area, California, with his wife and family.
Ray Edwards is a Communications Strategist, Copywriter, and the author of "How to Write Copy That Sells".He's also the creator of The Copywriting Academy™, the Certified Direct Response Copywriter program, and The Ray Edwards Copywriting Agency. He's also the author of Read This or Die!: Persuading Yourself to a Better Life.
Kimberly is a professional helper and artist. Today, she is an English professor, published writer, and counselor. During her critical illness in 2021-2022, she began dreaming about The Way Back to Ourselves and founded it in August of 2022. Her writing has been published in Ekstasis, Fathom, Truly Co, Radix, Calla Press, The Dew Drop, and many others. She is in the process of publishing her debut poetry book, Of Wings & Dirt, which is inspired by her health journey, infertility, and miraculous motherhood. She is also at work on a devotional, A Way Through the Wilderness: 40 Devotionals for Suffering, and a nonfiction work about parenting and leading this new generation toward wholeness, which is the research and passion project that inspired this community. It, too, is titled The Way Back to Ourselves.
Words. Especially encouraging words are what we all need, to give them and receive them. These words can give us life and help us navigate the challenges that often occur in our lives. Scott and Troy talk about the power of encouraging words and the effects they have on us.
Sarah L. Sanderson is a writer, speaker, and teacher who believes in the life-giving freedom found in radical honesty. Her work has appeared at PBS NewsHour, Blackpast, Christianity Today, Fathom, The Unmooring, Christ and Pop Culture, The Other Journal, Motherly, Relief, Stark and Main, and Brain, Child, among others. She is also a monthly contributor to Three-Fifths. She studied English and Philosophy at Wheaton College, and holds a Master in Teaching degree from Seattle University and a Master of Fine Arts in Creative Nonfiction from Seattle Pacific University. As a creative writing teacher, she has worked with every age, from preschool through adults. Her first book, The Place We Make: Breaking the Legacy of Legalized Hate, releases August 15, 2023 from WaterBrook. Find her on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook, or stay in touch via her somewhat irregular email newsletter.
Jason is a writer, speaker, and lead communicator at A Family Story ministries. His mission is to encourage sons and daughters to grow sure in the love of an always-good heavenly Father. He and his wife, Karen, live in North Carolina with their three children.
www.jasonclarkis.com Facebook // Twitter // Instagram
Derek Turner is a follower of Jesus, in love with @sarahjturner, father to @caro.turn & @kaaatters, owner of Milo, pastor @rivercharlotte. Amazed by Grace
www.rivercharlotte.com Facebook // Twitter // Instagram
John Blake is an award-winning journalist at CNN.com, the online site for CNN. He is also the author of “More Than I Imagined: What a Black Man Discovered About the White Mother He Never Knew.” He has been honored by the Associated Press, the Society of Professional Journalists, the American Academy of Religion, the National Association of Black Journalists, the Religion Communicators Council and with the GLAAD Media Award. He was most recently the winner of the 2019 Sigma Delta Chi awards for Excellence in Journalism for his online columns on race and politics.
His 2020 essay, “There’s One Epidemic We May Never Find a Cure For: Fear of Black Men in Public Spaces,” was recently selected by Bustle Digital Group as one of the 11 best essays on racism and police violence. The other authors on that list included Ta-Nehisi Coates, Ibram X. Kendi, and Roxane Gay.
Blake’s first book, “Children of the Movement,” was a finalist for the 2005 NAACP Image Awards in the Outstanding Literary Work Non-Fiction category and a finalist for the Gustavus Myers Outstanding Book Awards. He has spoken at high schools, colleges, symposiums and in documentaries about topics such as race, religion and politics. Blake is a native of Baltimore, Maryland and a graduate of Howard University.
Andrew Thorp King is an executive fintech banker, spy novelist, speaker, punk rocker, podcaster, ex-bodybuilder, cigar lover, and serial entrepreneur. He founded two independent record labels—Thorp Records and Sailor’s Grave Records—and has invested in many spaces, including online lending, fitness, lead generation, and independent music. Andrew Thorp King is also a serial failure. He has crashed and burned through bankruptcy, divorce, mortgage default, public assistance, and multiple business failures. But, like a jack-in-the-box after a punch, he pops back up every time, rebuilding his life—informed by failure—with a big smile on his face.
Maina Mwaura resides in Atlanta, Georgia, with his wife, Tiffany, and daughter, Zyan. He is a graduate of Liberty University and New Orleans Theological Seminary and has served on staff at several churches. You can find Maina‘s written work at mainaspeaks.com.
Jillian Benfield (www.jillianbenfield.com) is a former journalist and news anchor. She holds a broadcast journalism degree from the University of Georgia. As a freelance writer, her essays about living an unexpected life have appeared on sites such as TODAY, Good Morning America, Yahoo! News, and ABC News. Jillian regularly advocates for the full inclusion of people with disabilities in her writings, community, and as a part of the National Down Syndrome Congress's National Down Syndrome Advocacy Coalition. Jillian and her husband, Andy, and their three children make their home on Florida's Space Coast.
How do we live our lives in light of the fact we will not be here some day? How do we live knowing we will go?Scott and Troy talk about death and dying, and how it informs our living.
Kayla Craig is a parent to four wild, wonderful kids and the author of Every Season Sacred: Reflections, Prayers, and Invitations to Nourish Your Soul and Nurture Your Family throughout the Yearand To Light Their Way: A Collection of Prayers & Liturgies for Parents.
She is the creator of Liturgies for Parents, where she shares nuanced and nurturing prayers for you to borrow for your fantastic, dirty, messy, holy life.
Caroline Oaks is a writer/spiritual director/publicist who is fascinated with the shifts in mind and spirit that slowing down and noticing can bring. She studies and follow luminaries of the perennial wisdom that underlies all religions and spiritual traditions — thinking of spiritual teachers like Thomas Merton and Mary Oliver and Hafiz and the Desert Mothers and Fathers, and Richard Rohr's Wisdom School with Cynthia Bourgeault and James Finley.
Before she became an internationally renowned designer and photographer, Carley Summers suffered from alcoholism and addiction, spending nights in jail, the emergency room, and rehab. As someone who celebrates recovery today, she knows firsthand the importance of a warm and inviting home. Summers uses her life experience and her craft to ensure that the homes she designs and photographs are comforting, healing spaces in which to live and grow.
Carley Summers is an interior designer and photographer holding a fine arts degree focused on photography and painting. With interior photography she helps clients and brands narrate their stories. With interior design she creates truly sacred spaces for clients and their loved ones to enjoy. Carley Summers and her husband, Jon, live in North Carolina with their son, Max.
As humans we tend to forget. Often we forget the most important things, as a result we need reminders. We need reminders about our worth, that we’re loved deeply. That we’re not alone.
Scott and I talk about our natural propensity to forget, as Scott says “we’re leaky vessels.” Yep we leak, so we need reminding, of those most Important things.
Jenny Wise Black is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist who specializes in how media impacts our mental health. She is the author of Our Digital Soul and the creator of Lose the Phone a podcast series and movement that supports humans as they heal from media addiction and trauma and learn to engage in their real ives and their digital lives from a place of wholeness.
David Kim was born in Seoul, Korea, and immigrated to America at age ten. He currently lives in California with his wife and two daughters, enjoying the weather and this incredible creative culture--but not so much the cost of living!
David is a follower of Jesus and serves as the discipleship and formation pastor at WestGate Church, a multi-ethnic, multisite church in the heart of Silicon Valley. He also serves as an executive board member of Mustard Seed Generation, a mental health nonprofit providing resources for the Korean American community's healing & well-being.
David is also the author of Made to Belong: Five Practices for Cultivating Community in a Disconnected World and A Kids Book About Change.
Karen Swallow Prior, Ph. D., is a reader, writer, and professor. She is the author of The Evangelical Imagination: How Stories, Images, and Metaphors Created a Culture in Crisis (Brazos, 2023); On Reading Well: Finding the Good Life through Great Books (Brazos 2018); Fierce Convictions: The Extraordinary Life of Hannah More—Poet, Reformer, Abolitionist (Thomas Nelson, 2014); and Booked: Literature in the Soul of Me (T. S. Poetry Press, 2012). She is co-editor of Cultural Engagement: A Crash Course in Contemporary Issues (Zondervan 2019) and has contributed to numerous other books. She has a monthly column for Religion News Service. Her writing has appeared at Christianity Today, New York Times, The Atlantic, The Washington Post, First Things, Vox, Think Christian, The Gospel Coalition, and various other places. She hosted the podcast Jane and Jesus.
Pete is the author of the Revolutionary War adventure The Fiddler’s Gun and its sequel Fiddler’s Green as well as a variety of short stories. As a playwright he has published The Battle of Franklin (first produced by Studio Tenn in 2016 and revived in 2017), a stage adaptation of Frankenstein (produced by Studio Tenn in 2018), and The Hiding Place, which received its world premier production from A. D. Players in Houston, Texas in 2019. Among the many strange things he’s been in life are the following: U. S. Marine air traffic controller, television editor, art teacher and boatwright at the Florida Sheriffs Boys Ranch, and progenitor of the mysterious Budge-Nuzzard. He and his wife, Jennifer, live in Nashville where he is the Executive Director of the Rabbit Room and Managing Editor of Rabbit Room Press.
Scott and Troy discuss what it means to practice the art of being present and how it creates space and more life for ourselves and others.
W. LEE WARREN, M.D. is a brain surgeon, inventor, Iraq War veteran, and author of I've Seen the End of You: A Neurosurgeon's Look at Faith, Doubt, and the Things We Think We Know. His last book, No Place to Hide, was named to the 2015 U.S. Air Force Chief of Staff's Recommended Reading List. Dr. Warren has appeared on The 700 Club, the CBS Evening News, and his writings have been featured in Guideposts magazine. Dr. Warren practices neurosurgery at Great Plains Health. He plays the guitar and loves to make connections between faith, science, and the realities of life. Dr. Warren lives in Nebraska with his wife, Lisa.
Karen Wright Marsh is an author, speaker and the executive director and cofounder of Theological Horizons, a ministry that supports Christians & seekers in academia by providing a welcoming community for engaging faith, thought & life. She is the host of the Vintage Saints and Sinners podcast. She holds degrees in philosophy from Wheaton College & linguistics from the University of Virginia. Karen lives with Charles Marsh, a UVA professor, at the Bonhoeffer House in Charlottesville, Virginia.
John is a pastor (at Marda Loop Church), teacher and writer who lives in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. His passion is to know God more (and to read everything he’s written). For the past 20 years he's been exploring a worldview that seeks to discern God's voice in all things: the Bible and creation (i.e. the arts, sport, science, film, music, literature, history, mathematics, nature and human nature). His first book, The Day Metallica Came to Church: Seeing the Everywhere God in Everything (2010), listens for God's whispers in pop culture. His second book, Every Job a Parable; What Walmart Greeters, Nurses and Astronauts tell us about God (2017), listens for God's words at work.
We talk about John's third book is entitled, God Speaks Science: What Neurons, Giant Squid, and Supernovae Reveal about Our Creator (2023)
Drew Jackson is a poet, speaker, and public theologian. He is author of God Speaks Through Wombs: Poems on God’s Unexpected Coming and Touch the Earth: Poems on The Way. His work has appeared in Oneing, Made for Pax, The Journal from the Centre for Public Christianity, Fathom Magazine, and other publications.
He received his B.A. in Political Science from the Univ. of Chicago and his M.A. in Theology from Fuller Theological Seminary. He lives in New York City with his wife and daughters.
Scott and Troy discuss giving ourselves mental post it notes as reminders of who we are, and how to face our daily lives. They each share a couple that are helpful as they navigate their daily lives and it's inherent challenges.
Michelle is passionate to see disciples be transformed as they transform the world. She serves as Executive Minister of Make and Deepen Disciples for the Evangelical Covenant Church. She has also served on the advisory board of the Institute for Bible reading, ministered to international students with Cru in New York City, and engaged in three global gatherings of the Lausanne Movement. Michelle earned an M.Div. and Th.M. from Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary, completed spiritual direction training at Boston College, and studied the life and times of Jesus at Jerusalem University College. After majoring in international business at NYU, she worked as an investment banker with Goldman Sachs. A regular columnist with Outreach Magazine,Michelle is also the author of a trilogy of books that provide Christ-centered racial discipleship for all ages: Color-Courageous Discipleship, Color-Courageous Discipleship Student Edition, and the picture book, God’s Beloved Community. Michelle and her family live in the greater Chicago area.
Scott and Troy talk about the prevelant, or prevailing soundtrack that fills our minds. Often they are the ones that can derail us. We discuss if they are true, or fasle and some stratagies to face them. We discuss the need to practice, or have disciplines to help counter the lies that can be our soundtracks. These can include coaching, conseling, and community, because we need others to become fully human.
Jonathan is passionate about helping people live in abundant freedom and self-sacrificial love. A writer and popular podcast host, Jonathan and his wife also pastor children at a thriving community church in Kitchener, Ontario. Having spent much of his career in non-profit leadership, Jonathan is a visionary thinker with a strategic mind, who is just as comfortable speaking to large audiences as he is mentoring one-on-one. Raised by missionary parents, living in five countries and being exposed to a broad range of faith traditions, Jonathan teaches from a rich and inclusive Christian framework. A father of three, Jonathan loves dance music, science fiction, good food, dark beer, and long walks on the beach. He was born in New Zealand, so he does know a few things about beaches.
Scott and Troy talk a bit about the journey of reaching more than 150 episodes. It's an episode filled with gratitude and fun.
Dr. Mark Mayfield is an author, speaker, leadership coach, counselor, and professor. He has extensive experience in executive leadership as former founder and CEO of Mayfield Counseling Centers a 501c3 non-profit in Colorado Springs which serves over 25,000 appointments a year. Dr. Mayfield is an executive leadership coach, helping churches and organizations navigate the complexities of their mental and emotional health. Clinically, Dr. Mayfield is an expert in working with families affected by trauma. He is an Assistant Professor of Clinical Mental Health Counseling at CCU and also partners with the AACC as the Director of Practice and Ministry Development and Editor of Marriage & Family: A Christian Journal.
BJ is a life coach, speaker, and author who helped launch one of the largest faith movements in recent history – the “116 Movement” with Grammy award winning artist Lecrae. He also worked to expand groundbreaking racial reconciliation work with school, churches, & non-profits in Memphis, TN.
BJ has worked with tens of thousands of individuals and couples all over the world helping them experience personal, professional and relational growth. Currently BJ serves as the executive director for Build a Better Us. He has a bachelor’s degree in sociology from the University of North Texas and a master’s degree in Christian studies from Union University. He has been featured in Relevant Magazine, Propel, Christianity Today, Barna, & many other publications.
He has also worked with the History Channel, ERLC, Universities & other corporations. He and his wife Vanja have been married more than 20 years and live in Atlanta with their three children.
Robby Fowler, Champion of Life-giving Brands. What the heck is a life-giving brand? And how is he crowned champion? Good questions. He never set out to do this. But he 'MacGyvered' my zagging path into a Swiss army knife that is his life and business. He never set out to do this. But here he is. Robby has “MacGyvered" multifarious interests, eclectic experiences, and nerdy librarian-like passion for learning into a single Swiss army knife that is my life and business. (He's not Swiss. He does love Roger Federer though.) All the strange turns, detours, and adventures in how he got here play a critical role in my passion for helping others build life-giving brands and profitable personal brand websites.Here are the 'MacGyvered' Swiss army knife blades he uses most to help personal brands: * Sharp Creativity to think differently about your problems and new solutions * Pristine Clarity in coaching, teaching, copywriting, and simplifying complexities * Sage Strategy to help you take the right next step and implement action * Radical Empathy to connect with you and your customers * Leadership Development to grow leaders, not just dollars
Scott and Troy talk about being the best possible you. That unique role that you only fill.
"Let's have some fun"... It's what Troy says when he starts an episode with a guest, before his first question. Scott and Troy talk about having and choosing fun and joy, even in the not the so joyous parts of life
Rachel Anne Ridge is an author, professional artist, and motivational speaker. Her books Flash: The Homeless Donkey Who Taught Me about Life, Faith, and Second Chances and Walking with Henry: Big Lessons from a Little Donkey on Faith, Friendship, and Finding Your Path have delighted readers with their entertaining tales and poignant lessons. A certified life coach, Rachel works with individuals and organizations to discover their creative gold through hands-on workshops, retreats, and coaching. Rachel is a mom to three adult children, and Nana to five grandchildren. Learn more at rachelanneridge.com.
Sometimes your dreams come true, even through the grief and pain that life can dole out in heavy doses. Art and beauty are always around, but it's up to us to see it, as Mary Oliver says "pay attention, and tell about it. Well that's what Sean Dietrich does, he tells about it through his singing and beauty of the written word.
Sean Dietrich is a columnist, novelist, and podcast host, known for his commentary on life in the American South. His work has appeared in Newsweek, Southern Living, Garden and Gun, The Tallahassee Democrat, Good Grit, South Magazine, Alabama Living, the Birmingham News, Thom Magazine, The Mobile Press Register, and he has authored thirteen books, and is the creator of the Sean of the South Podcast.
Tullian is a graduate of Columbia International University, where he received a degree in Philosophy, and Reformed Theological Seminary in Orlando, where he earned his Master of Divinity.
A grandson of (Evangelist) Billy and Ruth Graham, Tullian was the Founding Pastor of the former New City Church (in Fort Lauderdale, Florida) which merged with the historic Coral Ridge Presbyterian Church in 2009. He served there as Senior Pastor until June 2015.
Tullian has written eight books including, It Is Finished: 365 Days of Good News (2015), One Way Love: Inexhaustible Grace for an Exhausted World (2013), Glorious Ruin: How Suffering Sets You Free (2012), and Jesus + Nothing = Everything (2011) which won Christianity Today’s Book of the Year in 2011. Both “Glorious Ruin” and “Jesus + Nothing = Everything” were ECPA finalists for Book of the Year. He also served as a Contributing Editor to various publications and traveled extensively around the country speaking at conferences, churches, universities, and seminaries. Tullian has appeared on Sean Hannity, Fox & Friends, 60 Minutes, CBS News, The Ingraham Angle, Morning Joe, the 700 Club, and many other TV and radio outlets.
Troy and Scott talk about living from our foundation of ultimate worth, and how it leads to sharing it among others.
What happens when we pause and give ourselves, our minds a break from the constant barrage of distractions. Surprisingly our brains can heal, even create new ways of thinking. Scott and Troy talk about being intentional to break free from our overload of distractions we face each day.
Josh White is a speaker, recording artist, writer, and founding pastor of Door of Hope, a thriving church community in the heart of Portland. He has recorded multiple worship albums, including as the frontman of Telecast. Josh has also produced numerous records, including Liz Vice’s first album, There’s a Light. Josh and his wife, Darcy, reside in Portland, Oregon, with their son and daughter.
Scott and Troy talk about being courageous while in the midst of grief, but still being able to embrace joy.
Can you imagine your best day? Have you glimpsed it yet? Turn off your phone and you’ll see it’s possible. Our Digital Soul guides you through the overwhelming maze of modern life to the life you really want, as it takes a hard look at the impacts of digital media and the trauma that results for all ages and every generation. Backed by research and experience, Black and Hutchins share their own personal journeys as well as those of their clients to explore a path where we can recover and thrive alongside our digital reality.
Jenny Black is a licensed marriage and family therapist and founder of Media Trauma Care.
Bob Hutchins is a Digital Marketing Executive with an MSc in Behavioral and Organizational Psychology.
Jenny and Bob have both delivered Tedx Talks on the subjects of the slow drip of media trauma, ambiguous loss, and tragic optimism.
Jenny Black and Bob Hutchins collaborate and work in Franklin, TN.
Lisa Sharon Harper, is the author of several books, including Evangelical Does Not Equal Republican…or Democrat (The New Press, 2008); Left Right and Christ: Evangelical Faith in Politics (Elevate, 2011); Forgive Us: Confessions of a Compromised Faith (Zondervan, 2014); and the critically acclaimed, The Very Good Gospel: How Everything Wrong can be Made Right (Waterbrook, a division of Penguin Random House, 2016). The Very Good Gospel, recognized as the “2016 Book of the Year” by Englewood Review of Books, explores God’s intent for the wholeness of all relationships in light of today’s headlines.
In 2015, The Huffington Post named Ms. Harper one of 50 powerful women religious leaders to celebrate on International Women’s Day. In 2019, The Religion Communicators Council named a two-part series within Ms. Harper’s monthly Freedom Road Podcast “Best Radio or Podcast Series of The Year”. The series focused on The Roots and Fruits of Immigrant Labor Exploitation in the US. And in 2020 Ms. Harper received The Bridge Award from The Selma Center for Nonviolence, Truth and Reconciliation in recognition of her dedication to bridging divides and building the beloved community.
Lisa is host of the Freedom Road Podcast, cohost of The FOUR Podcast and author of her weekly column on Substack, “The Truth Is…”. Her much anticipated book, Fortune: How Race Broke My Family And The World–And How To Repair It All, is now available!
Rob Decker is a certified personal trainer with extensive experience working privately with clients as well as for major high end establishments such as Equinox and Lifetime Fitness. He currently resides in Colorado.
Rob is also a CCAR (Center for Addiction Recovery) Coach. CCAR focuses on providing individuals with the skills needed to guide, mentor and support anyone who would like to enter into or sustain long-term recovery from an addiction to alcohol or other drugs. Rob's unique skills and compassion for kids has made him an excellent youth mentor, as well.
Rob is a published author and public speaker who has appeared on numerous podcasts speaking about his faith and his commitment to fitness. If you would like to have Rob speak and share his story.
Burdens, bags, extra stuff we carry in life, can and do pull us down. These extra bags we carry can weigh on us, and keep us from a more lite and abundant life. Scott and Troy talk about some of these bags that do weigh us down in life. We use the poem by Drew Jackson, These Bags as our reference.
Amy Julia Becker is an award-winning writer and speaker on personal, spiritual, and social healing. She is the author of four books, including To Be Made Well: An Invitation to Wholeness, Healing, and Hope, and she hosts the Love Is Stronger Than Fear podcast.
Becker is a graduate of Princeton University and Princeton Theological Seminary (MDiv). She lives with her husband and their three children in western Connecticut.
Scott and Troy talk about the importance of a well rooted life, because in life there will be challenges and storms.
John Blase is an author, poet, and former pastor. He loves questions more than answers. As he states on his website ..."My credo, if it can even be called such a thing, rides piggyback on the slithering black curved back of the lovely question mark.
I don’t have many answers, but I do have questions…"
Joshua S. Porter is pastor of teaching and creative vision at Van City Church in Vancouver, Washington. He is also a former member of the experimental art-punk band, Showbread, and the author of the novel Punk Rock Vs. the Lizard People. Find out more and connect with Joshua at joshuasporter.com. He is also the author of two books, one which we highlight in this interview: Death to Deconstruction: Reclaiming Faithfulness as an Act of Rebellion.
It’s our 3rd annual books of the year episode for This Undivided Life. Scott picked 3 titles, and Troy picked 3 as well. Of the many books we both read, these were our 6 favorite books of the year.
Scott’s picks:
Confronting Injustice Without Compromising Truth: 12 Questions Christians Should Ask About Social Justice by Thaddeus J. Williams
According to Plan: The Unfolding Revelation of God in the Bible by Graeme Goldsworthy
Skeletons on the Zahara: A True Story of Survival by Dean King
Troy’s Picks:
Prayer in the Night: For Those Who Work or Watch or Weep by Tish Harrison Warren
Stumbling Toward Eternity: Losing and Finding Ourselves in the Cross of Jesus by Josh White
Walk a Little Slower by Tanner Olson
It's easy to do, to not give yourself the permission to just be human. Often we give grace to others, but don't do the same for ourselves. Scott and Troy talk about the beauty of giving ourselves what we often need, grace. Grace to be human in all our fraility.
William "Bill" Edgar is an American apologist and professor of systematic theology at Westminster Theological Seminary. He has been called by Charles Colson "one of evangelicalism's most valued scholars and apologists."
Daniel Fusco is an author, church planter, and the lead pastor of Crossroads Community Church in Vancouver, Washington. His radio program, Jesus is Real Radio, is broadcast across the country, and his TV show, Real with Daniel Fusco, airs across the globe. He also hosts the popular Crazy Happy with Daniel Fusco podcast. His numerous articles have appeared in CBN, Preaching Today, and Relevant. Daniel and his wife, Lynn, have three children and reside in southwest Washington.
We talk about his new book, You're Gonna Make: It Unlocking Resilience When Life Is a Mess
What happens in our lives when we change our perspective on our circumstances, even when things get messy or go wrong. cab we be joyful, grateful even when life deals its worst? Yes we can.
Join Scott and Troy as they talk about gratitude sometimes in the midst of the mess and things not going our way.
Tanner Olson is an author, speaker, and poet.
He started the creative project, Written to Speak, in 2013 to spread hope and announce love through spoken word and poetry.
His writing has been described as unique as it blends faith, humor, and curiosity as I seek to point readers and listeners toward the ultimate source of hope and love, Jesus.
He's written 3 books of poetry Walk A Little Slower
As You Go: Words for the Unknown
I’m All Over the Place
As Scott often says we are leaky vessels and we forget a lot. We need reminders of our worth, of our worthiness, because the world at large can send messages that are in opposition to these core truths that we are all worthy.
How do our beliefs shape us? Are we aware of some those beliefs that govern our lives, or as Scott and Troy talk about our beliefs, are those beliefs guiding and governing us without knowledge.
Marilyn Vancil has studied the Enneagram and its value in Christian spiritual transformation for many years. She is a Certified Enneagram Professional in the Narrative Tradition through Enneagram Worldwide, a certified spiritual director through SoulStream in Abbotsford, BC, and a trained life coach through Coach Training Alliance. She has also completed coursework on the Enneagram at Loyola University and the Deep Coaching Institute.
Marilyn facilitates workshops and retreats on the Enneagram, focusing on how it can be used to deepen one’s life with God and improve relationships. She practices spiritual direction and coaching from Seattle where she enjoys life with her husband, Jeff.
Heather Avis is the founder of The Lucky Few, a New York Times best-selling author, podcaster and a Down syndrome advocate, working to create a more inclusive world where everyone belongs. For more than a decade,She has led this effort by shouting worth, shifting narratives and reimagining what it looks like when we embrace our differences.
The Lucky Few is an invitation to build a kinder, more inclusive world. We accomplish this through a combination of advocacy and activism, narrative-shifting and storytelling. The Lucky Few believes in inspiring and challenging our audiences, calling them to listen, read, share, contribute and support as we work to create a world where differences are embraced and everyone belongs.
Rich Villodas is the Brooklyn-born lead pastor of New Life Fellowship, a large multiracial church with more than seventy-five countries represented in Elmhurst, Queens. Rich holds a Master of Divinity from Alliance Theological Seminary. He enjoys reading widely, preaching and writing on contemplative spirituality, justice-related matters, and the art of preaching. He's been married to Rosie since 2006 and they have two beautiful children, Karis and Nathan.
In a life that is known for speed, for instant. It can be hard to realize that how humans grow, mature, is not instant, or 5 easy steps, but a long road of becoming. Scott and Troy talk this week about the often long process, or as we say "the art" of becoming our true selves.
Is there any hope for humanity? Has God given up on us? Andrew Arndt is his new book Streams in the Wasteland tackles these questions. He points us to the desert fathers and mothers who faced some of the same questions in the 3rd century, less than 300 years from Christ's death and resurrection.
It's a great and hope filled conversation with Andrew.
Andrew Arndt is the Lead Pastor of New Life East (one of seven congregations of New Life Church in Colorado Springs), where he also hosts the Essential Church podcast, a weekly conversation designed to strengthen the thinking of church and ministry leaders.
Pain. We all face it. Can there be a purpose to it? Can it help us become more human, or even better humans? Scott and Troy talk about what can do in helping us become more human, less brittle, less angry if we let it.
We talk about Tish Warren's quote in her book Prayer in the Night: For Those Who Work or Watch or Weep..."The people I most respect are those who have suffered but did not numb their pain-who faced their darkness. In the process they have become beautifully weak, not tough as nails, not bitter or rigid, but men and women who bear vulnerability with joy and trust. They are almost luminescent, like a paper lantern, weak enough that the light shines through."
What is the cost to us, to others in our often relentless pursuit of control get us? More anxiety, stress, broken relationships, a loss of reality? Yes and Yes. Join the conversation as Sharon Hodde Miller talks about control and what it costs us, as she shares about her new book, The Cost of Control: Why we crave it, the anxiety it gives us, and the real power God promises.
Sharon is a Christ-follower, author, pastor, and teacher.She loves her husband Ike, her kids, and her church, Bright City she co-pastors with her husband Ike. She's also a Disney connoisseur. She lives in North Carolina with Ike and her 3 kids.
Likes, heart emojis, what do we do when they don't give us the validation they used to? What do we when we rely on others who don't know us, but we allow them to have an inordinate effect on us? What do we do? Where should we go?
Scott and Troy catch up and talk about the podcast and where we've been for a couple of weeks.
Todd W. Hall (PhD, Rosemead School of Psychology) is professor of psychology at Rosemead School of Psychology at Biola University, where he teaches courses on the integration of psychology and theology, psychodynamic psychotherapy, and positive psychology. He is a faculty affiliate at the Harvard Human Flourishing Program at Harvard University and a founding partner at Flourishing Metrics.
Hall is an award-winning researcher, focusing on relational approaches to spirituality, virtue, and leadership. He is a coauthor of Psychology in the Spirit and Relational Spirituality, developer of several widely used spiritual assessments, and codeveloper of the Flourish Assessment. He and his wife, Liz, have two sons and live in Southern California.
Jay Kim is the author of Analog Church (2020), Analog Christian (2022), 40 Days through the Book: Colossians (2022), and a contributing author to Before You Lose Your Faith (2021), Red Skies (2022), and The Upside Down Kingdom Study Bible (2023).
Some of his written work has been featured in Christianity Today, The Gospel Coalition, Missio Alliance, and Relevant Magazine.
Often times we want to big things to change the world, but as Mister Rogers said, what if we thought about doing small things and how that would change others as well as us.
With a PhD in Human Development and Family Relations, spending nearly a decade as a Human Sexuality instructor at various universities and colleges, and leading churches for nearly 20 years, Dr. E, Eric Sandras has seen and heard it all. He has met countless people who long for meaningful, significant and authentic relationships with others and with God. People who need a second or third chance to experience God’s grace.
Dr. E’s teachings and four books: When The Sky Is Falling, Buck Naked Faith, Plastic Jesus, and Mystics, Mavericks, and Miracle Workers
Scott and Troy talk about the influence of both their dads had on their lives. It's a fun discussion of what fathers can do to leave a lasting legacy for their kids.
Helen Lee has been a Christian publishing professional since 1993, when she began her career working at Christianity Today (CT) magazine. She is the director of product innovation at InterVarsity Press, where she formerly served as an associate editor, director of marketing, and associate director of strategic partnerships.
Helen is the author of The Missional Mom, co-author of The Race-Wise Family, and contributor to numerous other books and Bibles, including the NIV Devotional Bible for Women and the Everyday Matters Bible for Women.
Bob Lotich is a high-performance financial coach, Certified Educator in Personal Finance (CEPF®) and has been named a top-20 influencer in personal finance. His award-winning website, SeedTime.com and SeedTime Money Podcast have reached over 50 million people in the past decade.
His writing and advice has been featured in Men’s Health Magazine, Forbes, Yahoo Finance, Inc., Beliefnet, Time, and many others.
Often in our fast paced life we miss the beauty that is already there, especially in the painful parts of life. Scott and Troy talk about being aware of the beauty in life in the midst of these challenges.
Cliff Ravenscraft has trained more than 40,000 folks in the craft of podcasting. He's known as The Podcast Answer Man, but it's not who he is. In his own words he's a "A Divine Spiritual Being Having A Human Experience."
Often we go about life in autopilot just going through the motions. What if we were to slow and see, slow and sense the true awe of life? What if we were to see the ordinary and realize we're often looking at the extraordinary. Scott and Troy discuss leaning into our sense of awe by talking about some quotes on it.
One of our challenges in life is to give others grace, to realize they may be doing the best they can. The same is often true of ourselves. Scott and Troy honor Mother's Day 2022 and talk about how we're all shaped by our relational systems, and often we're only doing the best we can.
Felicia Wu Song (PhD, University of Virginia) is a cultural sociologist of media and digital technologies, currently serving as professor of sociology at Westmont College in Santa Barbara. Her publications include Virtual Communities: Bowling Alone, Online Together and articles in such scholarly journals as Gender & Society and Information, Communication & Society. Bass player
Joshua Becker is the founder and editor of Becoming Minimalist, a website dedicated to inspiring others to find more life by owning less. The website welcomes over 1.8 million readers each month and has inspired millions around the world to consider the practical benefits of owning fewer possessions and giving them the practical help to get started. He is the author of 5 books including his newly released Things That Matter: Overcoming Distraction to Pursue a More Meaningful Life
Andy Crouch is partner for theology and culture at Praxis, an organization that works as a creative engine for redemptive entrepreneurship. His writing explores faith, culture, and the image of God in the domains of technology, power, leadership, and the arts. He is the author of five books (plus another with his daughter, Amy Crouch): The Life We're Looking For: Reclaiming Relationship in a Technological World (forthcoming from Convergent in April 2022), The Tech-Wise Family: Everyday Steps for Putting Technology in Its Proper Place, Strong and Weak: Embracing a Life of Love, Risk and True Flourishing, Playing God: Redeeming the Gift of Power, and Culture Making: Recovering Our Creative Calling.
Scott and Troy talk about the hope of being waited for, the hope of being believed in, and being fully seen as we are, accepted and loved. They also talk about it being episode 100 and celebrate this accomplishment.
KEVIN SWEENEY is co-founder and lead pastor of Imagine Church—an urban church in Honolulu that is welcoming of all people, sees imagination as the key to the future, chooses au- thenticity over performance, substance over hype, and quality over quantity.
He is the host of podcast “The Church Needs Therapy” and is the author of the forth- coming books, “The Making of a Mystic: My Journey with Mushrooms, My Life as a Pastor, and Why It’s Okay For Everyone to Relax,” out on May 31st, and “The Joy of Letting Go” which will be out in January 2023. Both on Quoir Publishing.
He lives In Honolulu with his wife and co-founder of Imagine, Christine, and their two kids, True and Mikayla.
Andrew Nemr, rhythm tap dancer, director, and one of the most hard working and diverse dancers of his generation, was born in Alberta, Canada to parents Joseph and Marlene Nemr, who had migrated to Canada in 1976 from their native Beirut, Lebanon. The family migrated to Alexandria, Virginia, where at age three Andrew took his first dance class with Chris Collins.
At age nine, upon seeing the film Tap (1989), starring Gregory Hines, Nemr fell in love with tap dance, especially with the challenge dance scene in the film that featured such veteran hoofers as Bunny Briggs, Harold Nicholas, Steve Condos, Sandman Sims, Jimmy Slyde, and Sammy Davis, Jr. "It was the freedom of it," Nemr recalled of that scene, "and I just wanted to do what they were doing." These masters would influence Nemr's rhythmic literacy, especially Hines, who became his teacher and mentor.
From Hines, says Nemr, who studied with him at Woodpecker's Tap Center, "I learned about space and patience." Said Hines about the young dancer, "His skills are rich and truly expressive."
Rod Wilson has worked as a psychologist, served as a pastor in three different churches, and held multiple roles in education, including President of Regent College in Vancouver, Canada from 2000-2015. Rod currently works with Lumara Grief and Bereavement Care Society, A Rocha, the Society of Christian Schools in BC, and In Trust Center for Theological Schools, and maintains an international teaching and mentoring ministry.
He is also a Senior Writer for Faith Today and is the author of Counseling and Community, Helping Angry People, and Exploring Your Anger. And the author of the new book Thank You. I’m Sorry. Tell Me More.: How to Change the World with 3 Sacred Sayings.
What if we leaned into our limited capacity as humans? Even embraced our weakness. What would our lives look like? Would we be more human, more relatable to others, to ourselves? Scott and Troy talk about leaning into our wonderful limited capacities as humans, and how just maybe it makes us more human, more relatable.
Todd Morrison is a writer and speaker who has spent over 15 years serving the local church. Todd lives in the Seattle area with his wife, Kara, and their two daughters, Gracie and Sophie.
Todd grew up as a missionary kid in Copenhagen, Denmark. Then his family unraveled; his parents abandoned him; his father came out as gay; he became a high-end cocaine dealer; and nearly lost everything to addiction. Todd has found unexpected mercy in the depths of despair, every time.
He shares his story in his new book, A Profound Mercy: Finding Redemption in the Despair of Our Own Doing.
What does a coffee shop, former Sf Giant player Hunter Pence and the pursuit of joy have in common? Listen as Scott and Troy discuss the intentional pursuit of joy in our lives.
The Reverend Dr. Jacqui Lewis is Senior Minister and Minister for Vision, Worship, and the Arts at the Middle Collegiate Church, a 900-member multiracial, multicultural, and inclusive congregation in New York City.
She is also the Executive Director and co-founder of The Middle Project, an institute that trains ethical faith leaders for a more just society.She’s the author of multiple books including her latest Fierce Love: A Bold Path to Ferocious Courage and Rule-Breaking Kindness That Can Heal the World
Shaka Senghor a father of three, is the Head of Diversity, Equality and Inclusion at TripActions. He is also the President of Shaka Senghor, Inc. and Founder of Redeemed Sole.
His memoir, Writing My Wrongs: Life, Death, and Redemption in an American Prison, was released in March 2016 and debuted on The New York Times Bestseller List as well as The Washington Post Best Seller List. An unforgettable tale of forgiveness and second chances, Writing My Wrongs reminds us that our worst deeds don't define who we are or what we can contribute to the world. Shaka’s story has inspired thousands and serves as a powerful testament to the power of hope, compassion and unconditional love.
Shaka is a former 2013 MIT Media Lab Director’s Fellow, and a former Fellow in the inaugural class of the W.K. Kellogg Foundation’s Community Leadership Network. He has taught at the University of Michigan and shares his story of redemption around the world. Shaka’s TED Talk, which he delivered at TED’s 30th Anniversary Conference, received a standing ovation and has been viewed more than 1.6 million times; TED later featured his talk in its “Year in Ideas” roundup, a collection of the most powerful TED Talks of 2014.
Daniel Grothe is married to Lisa Carol, and moved to Colorado Springs as a newly married couple in July of 2005. He has spent all of those years working at New Life Church where he serves as an associate senior pastor. He’s the author of two books Chasing Wisdom: The Lifelong Pursuit of Living Well & The Power of Place Choosing Stability in a Rootless Age.
He’s married to Lisa and has three children—Lillian, Wilson, and Wakley. They are the delights of their lives. He’s received his undergraduate degree in theology from Oral Roberts University and completed a Masters in Theology through Fuller Theological Seminary.
He loves writing, and has spent a lot of his life playing drums for wonderful singer/songwriters like GUNGOR, The Brilliance, Darrell Evans, and Michael Rossback.
What if adding to our lives was actually not as beneficial as taking things away. What if living a more whole, integrated involved us doing less, removing those pesky things that held us back. Scott and Troy talk about this and Troy shares about his cleaning his refrigerator and how it relates to living this way.
Mitchel is the Lead Pastor of Grace Community Church, a growing multi-ethnic church located between Washington, D.C. and Baltimore, MD. As the son of Korean immigrants, Mitchel grew up in between different worlds, and he has been uniquely called and equipped to be a bridge-builder between the nations and the generations. Mitchel earned his M.Div from Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary and his M.A. in Exegesis from Wheaton College. His ministry experiences range from preaching and leading ministry in Seoul, South Korea to Maryland, with stops in North Carolina, Virginia, and Chicagoland along the way.
He enjoys connecting over sports, the outdoors, good food, and authentic conversations. He, and his wife, Sarah, have five energetic children, Calvin, Noah, Benjamin, Beatrice, and Owen.
What if you could change the way you think, change the way you look at yourself and the world? Would your life change? Would the world as you know it around you change? Yes, it would. Join Rex Sikes, actor, author, father, and true friend as we talk about what it means to change the way you think, which does change the live and interact in your daily lives.
Is Joy something we can be intentional about? Is it just external, or is it more? Is it something that lives inside each of us, but requires intentionality to find? Is it living in the moment, being present, not just looking forward to what’s next or looking somewhere in our past. Join Scott and Troy as we discuss, navigating joy in our lives.
Caleb Kaltenbach is Research Pastor at Shepherd Church in Los Angeles and founder of The Messy Grace Group where he helps churches love and foster community with LGBTQ individuals without sacrificing theological convictions. He's the author of Messy Truth, God of Tomorrow, and Messy Grace (where he discusses being raised in the LGBTQ community, following Jesus, and how loving others doesn’t require shifting beliefs).
Kirsten Powers is the NYT bestselling author of SAVING GRACE: Speak Your Truth, Stay Centered & Learn To Coexist with People Who Drive You Nuts. She talks about living in true grace, first with yourself then with others. Here's how she ends her book..."Grace is an idea worth saving, and in the end it might just be what saves us-in ways we have not yet imagined." Yes!
What do we do when life goes sideways? When we have to stare pain or suffering in the face? How do we react? Do we try yo ignore it, avoid it, not acknowledge it? Scott and Troy discuss some ways to face our troubles, some ways to acknowledge the pain and come out the other side.
Erik and his wife of nearly 16+ years and their two children live in Northern Idaho and live a humble and blessed life. Together they are breaking the cycles handed down to them of addictions, depression, abuse, and lies. They are leaving a new legacy for their next generation built on a biblical foundation.
Along with being the sole provider for his family, Erik is an entrepreneur and avid MMA fan. Which he has created the best MMA podcast of the northwest, Top Rated MMA. He believes in giving back and honoring those that have served our country. With his companies Top Rated MMA and The Erik Allen Show he is able to do just that. By lifting others up and giving back to the community and veterans through great organizations like Hire Heroes USA.
Brian Zahnd: Full-time pastor. Occasional author. Would-be mountaineer. Brian is the founder and lead pastor of Word of Life Church, a Christian congregation located in the heartland of America in St. Joseph, Missouri. When Everything's on Fire: Faith Forged from the Ashes.
Whether it's gratitude or anger, or joy, or envy we become what we practice in our daily lives. Because life is what we practice.
Could surfing lead to healing, joy and possible wholeness? Yes! We talk with New York based attorney Russell Ragland and he shares about his work with AWOW, A Walk on Water. here's their vision/mission statement. Harnessing the ocean’s transformative powers, we deliver life-changing surf therapy to children with unique needs and their families.
We constantly strive to enhance our programs, strengthen our community and provide access to more children in need and their families, while remaining true to our core values— Empowering children with a feeling of pride and accomplishment, as they unlock their inner athlete through the emotional and incredibly transforming experience of surfing.
When we slow down for others it often gives us the chance to slow down ourselves. Which is a gift in this fast paced life we often live.
Heather is the author of The Lucky Few and a popular speaker, podcaster and founder of hit instagram account @theluckyfewofficial. She is a wife to her loving and supportive husband, Josh, and adoptive mother to Macyn, Truly, and August. The Lucky Few shares their daily lives through authentic and inspirational media empowering millions to make space for the other and discover the extraordinary by shouting a counter narrative, celebrating the differences, and creating a more inclusive world. Heather and her family live in Southern California.
Philip Yanceyis the author of twenty-five books, including The Jesus I Never Knew, What’s So Amazing About Grace?, and Soul Survivor: How Thirteen Unlikely Mentors Helped My Faith Survive the Church. Yancey’s books have garnered thirteen Gold Medallion Book Awards from Christian publishers and booksellers. He currently has more than seventeen million books in print and has been published in over fifty languages worldwide. Yancey worked as a journalist in Chicago for some twenty years, editing the youth magazine Campus Lifewhile also writing for a wide variety of publications including The New York Times, The Atlantic,and Christianity Today. In 1992, he and his wife, Janet, moved to the foothills of Colorado, where they live now.
Have you noticed in others, in yourself, how slow personal growth can be? What if you leaned in, and realized, it's normal. Grow is slow, nature, grow is slow in humans. Our faced paced world with all its answers only milliseconds away, give us a false sense of the speed of true growth in our lives, which is slow. Sometimes painstakingly slow. So give others, give yourself a break and lean into slow growth.
Joan Chittister is one of the most influential religious and social leaders of our time. For 50 years she has passionately advocated on behalf of peace, human rights, women’s issues, and church renewal. A much sought-after speaker, counselor and clear voice that bridges across all religions, she is also a best-selling author of more than 60 books, hundreds of articles, and an online column for the National Catholic Reporter. She has received numerous writing awards and honors for her work, and is a noted international lecturer as well as a former fellow at St. Edmund’s College, Cambridge University, England.
What do you do when things don't go as planned? Are you disappointed, sad, angry? We all have points in our lives when things don't go our way. It's how we face those times that can make a huge difference in our lives. I
t's how we face those times that can make a huge difference in our lives. What's a good way to face these challenges? We talk about this in this episode.
Dr. Mark Mayfield's painful personal experiences have now become accepted and integral parts of his life story. His years of guiding hundreds of people into mental, emotional, and spiritual health have equipped him. His personal life and professional life have set him on a mission to help you accept yourself as you are, then face, understand, and become the best version of yourself. We talk about his new book The Path out of Loneliness: Finding and Fostering Connection to God, Ourselves, and One Another
Temitope (Teh-ME-toh-PEH) is a worship artist who writes music empowering the Church to love beyond comfort. If you ask him about the genre of his music, he’ll refer to it as “horizontal worship” because it mobilizes the Church, the family of God, to share His love, which is freely given, with others, particularly those who are different from ourselves. In doing so, the Church becomes an active agent of reconciliation in the world. Temitope has carefully curated a distinct sound to spread and reflect this message.
The name, “Temitope,” originates from the Yorùbá tribe in Nigeria and means “mine is praise.” He was raised in a multicultural home by his Nigerian and British immigrant parents in San Diego, CA.
Finding our true worth. Because the world rewards what we do, or produce we often tie our value, our worth in the same way. We think if we produce more, or we do more, make more money our value will increase. The truth is we have infinite value, and it's not connected to what we do or produce, it's because of whose we are, and who created us, God.
In an era where social media can be so toxic, is it possible to make social media a less hateful, less divisive, and a more encouraging place to be? Author and pastor Doug Bursch, thinks so. Doug explores this question, and talks about practical ways to bring peace and hold space for others in his book Posting Peace: Why Social Media Divides Us and What We Can Do About It
What do we do in response to our pain? How is our pain redeemed? Kurt Willems, husband, father, pastor and childhood survivor of abuse talks about this with Troy. Kurt chronicles his journey in his book Echoing Pain: How the Humanity of Jesus Redeems Our Pain.
Scott and Troy talk about the lies we often tell ourselves. Those soundtracks in our heads that often tell us lies and not truth.
Andrew Arndt is the Lead Pastor of New Life East (one of seven congregations of New Life Church in Colorado Springs), where he also hosts the Essential Church podcast, a weekly conversation designed to strengthen the thinking of church and ministry leaders. Prior to joining New Life’s team, he served as Lead Pastor of Bloom Church: a neo-monastic, charismatic, liturgical, justice-driven network of house churches in Denver. He received his MDiv from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School, and has written for Missio Alliance, Patheos, The Other Journal, and Mere Orthodoxy. He lives in the Springs with his wife Mandi and their four kids.
Mark Victor Hansen is probably best known as the co-author for the Chicken Soup for the Soul book series and brand, setting world records in book sales, with over 500 millions books sold. Mark also worked his way into a worldwide spotlight as a sought-after keynote speaker, and entrepreneurial marketing maven, creating a stream of successful people who have created massive success for themselves through Mark’s unique teachings and wisdom. With his endearing charismatic style, Mark captures his audience’s attention as well as their hearts. Having spoken to over 6000 audiences world-wide with his one-of-a-kind technique and masterful authority of his work, time and again he continues to receive high accolades from his audiences as one of the most dynamic and compelling speakers and leaders of our time.
Scott and Troy talk about the source of our joy. Where do you find yours? Are you filling your soul with joyful things? How is practicing being present helpful for the cultivation of joy?
Scott and Troy discuss the question, "Is this good for my soul? How often do we move through life on auto pilot without asking what we're doing, taking in, relationships, etc. without asking is it good for our very souls?
Chocolate Johnny aka John Kapos the CEO Chocolate Eating Officer is a third-generation chocolatier and businessman who owns Perfection Chocolates. Hailing from Sydney, he was an early adopter of the online world.
He is constantly keeping up with the latest trends and developments in social media, and knows how to convert that into business success.
During the past eight years, he has used social media to take the “Chocolate Johnny brand” global. His boutique chocolate shop in Sydney is now an international social media dominator. John is a big fan of live video, which is where the future of social media marketing is predicted to sit.
John uses platforms like Periscope, Facebook Live and Snapchat, now Clubhouse to build brand awareness while showcasing his delicious products and how they are made.
Jesse is a pastor, former professional soccer goalkeeper (played in Zimbabwe Africa, Aberdeen Scotland, and Minnesota), radio host, author, and speaker. A graduate of Dartmouth College, his curiosity about faith and Jesus began there. In an Introduction to World Religions course, he began to read the Bible for the first time. Jesse graduated with a Master's Degree in Theology from Dallas Theological Seminary.
Jesse really enjoys authentic conversations with people of all ages and cultures. After surviving several close calls with death, Jesse is truly grateful for every new day and opportunities to encourage people in their journey and faith. Adoption and God's greater work of unity in the Sound and the nation are close to his heart. Jesse and his wife Laurie have four children and a fun dog named Bella.
Scott and Troy talk about living a life where we lean into our limitedness. Which can feel weak, but shows others that we are approachable, and relatable to others.
Chris Morris is a Christian mental health advocate and an author. You can find him at Chrismorriswrites.com. He’s not trained as a psychiatrist or a social worker, but he knows what it means to have mental health challenges. As a lifelong battler of depression and a few other mental health conditions, Chris has learned how to take control of his health the hard way. Through trial and error, and by walking through some deep and dark times. But he’s come out the other side of all these battles with scars he’s proud of and a strength he didn’t know he had in him.
Matthew Sleeth talks about his new book Hope Always it's the first practical, biblically-based, scientifically-grounded book that takes a holistic view of suicide. It explores why God is unequivocally for life, and what forces tempt us to choose death. Through the stories of patients and timeless truths of Scripture, it equips us to ask questions, seek help, and advocate for life.
Ken Walls, is the founder and CEO of a digital marketing, Web development and social media company he started in 2002. Understanding the power of video, he has been using it to market and promote clients on their websites.
His passions are technology, connecting with and helping people. He has done more than 2300 livestreams and had the privilege of coaching and consulting with clients and celebrities all over the world on how to livestream and use social media properly to get the best results.
In 2017, He authored a best-selling book teaching people how to turn their lives and their businesses around by turning pain into profit.
Scott and Troy talk about the upcoming second season of This Undivided Life. They also talk about listening to others and how it honors them. There's also a bit about car rentals and barding planes.
Scott and Troy talk about season one of This Undivided Life and look forward to season number 2. It's a birthday not only celebrating our show and guests but you the listener.
Daniel Grothe is married to Lisa Carol, and moved to Colorado Springs as a newly married couple in July of 2005. He has spent all of those years working at New Life Church where he serves as an associate senior pastor. He’s the author of Chasing Wisdom: The Lifelong Pursuit of Living Well
He’s married to Lisa and has three children—Lillian, Wilson, and Wakley. They are the delights of their lives. He’s received his undergraduate degree in theology from Oral Roberts University and completed a Masters in Theology through Fuller Theological Seminary.
He loves writing, and has spent a lot of his life playing drums for wonderful singer/songwriters like GUNGOR, The Brilliance, Darrell Evans, and Michael Rossback.
Troy and Scott discuss living an ordinary life, but not just ordinary, a beautiful life if we lean in and embrace it. They discuss the beauty of leaning into the present moment.
Is it possible to live a crazy happy life? Yes!!
Join Troy as he interviews Daniel Fusco, husband, father of three, pastor and author of multiple books including Crazy Happy: Nine Surprising Ways to Live the Truly Beautiful Life. We talk food, Jazz, beauty, gratitude, joy and the keys to living a whole and integrated life. A life of joy and true happiness.
Sean Dietrich is a columnist, novelist, and podcast host, known for his commentary on life in the American South. His work has appeared in Newsweek, Southern Living, Garden and Gun, The Tallahassee Democrat, Good Grit, South Magazine, Alabama Living, the Birmingham News, Thom Magazine, The Mobile Press Register, and he has authored nine books, and is the creator of the Sean of the South Podcast.
Sean talks about his new book Will the Circle Be Unbroken - A Memoir of Learning to Believe You're Gonna Be Ok
We explore BBQ and all things south, how to live a life good even in the midst of sorrow and grief.
Scott and Troy talk about the gift of imagination. How can our world change by what we can imagine.
Scott and Troy talk about meals that have had a profound effect on them. Whether it was a small meal at home with family or a fancy meal, we discuss how certain meals can make us feel.Not only the meal but the fellowship that was shared.
Stacy Henagan is the co-pastor of Keypoint Church, speaker, author, of the new book Breathe Again: choosing to believe there's more, when life has left you broken. and the founder of SHE Women's Conference. She’s married to Casey, and has four children: Holland, Hayes, Hudson, and Haven as she states in her book, who is waiting for us in Heaven.
John served for 27 years as teaching pastor at Open Door Fellowship in Phoenix, Arizona. The authenticity, longevity, and playfulness of these two communities, Trueface and Open Door, bring real-world reality and potency to the message of Trueface. John used his love for theater as a playwright and actor in Sharkey Productions, a troupe focused on gospel-anchored theater productions for those still seeking Jesus.
John and his wife Stacey often create inviting environments on their backyard patio and elsewhere for people to enjoy authentic community. They are passionate parents to their three children, Caleb married to Kali, with granddaughters Maci and Payton; Amy married to Cody, with grandson Ridge; and Carly.
Scott and Troy talk about frustration pain and lament and how we should not gloss over these human conditions. How we should first acknowledge they exist but also to walk through them and not just try to avoid them.
Tony Miltenberger is the lead pastor of Restoration Church Centerville, a thriving United Methodist congregation. He is also the host of The Reclamation Podcast, a show that “helps busy people reclaim good practices of faith and life,” and the co-author of “UnBreakable: Forging a Marriage of Contentment and Delight,” one wife 3 kids. which is based on his own marital struggles, and his experiences spearheading workshops for soldiers returning from deployment away from their families.
Daniel C White believes authenticity begins with honest connection. The true story starts when you put the lens down and listen. Whether his focus is a schoolchild in Rwanda or a CEO in Nashville, He seeks to know and understand people and earn the right to tell others' stories — diving in and fully immersing himself in their experiences before he ever begins to assess the lighting. Honest photography can only happen when the story is honored and the people are dignified.
His photography work began while on trips with international relief organizations. He began to notice the beautiful stories unfolding all around me and I felt called to capture what I saw. Through that experience he discovered a passion for telling stories in a unique way — seeking to remove his mark so only the beauty and honesty of the story remains on display. Every moment is sacred, and deserves to be treasured. Daniel strives to capture these moments in photos that are not only seen, but felt and experienced.
Scott and Troy talk about how play can help our souls. How Play can enrich our lives even if our playing has no perceived purpose.
Scott and Troy talk about facing 2021 with maybe a different perspective than we often do when we enter a new year. Having more of an approach that gives ourselves more room to achieve our goals and resolutions. A kinder way to view not of goal achievement and a kinder view of ourselves.
Lo Alaman is a spoken word poet, writer, preacher, and He is the Director of Community Life at The Harvest Church in The Woodlands, Texas, but his passion and gift is bringing words to life His most recent creative work is We Sang a Dirge on the subject of lament, and he shares with us the inspiration behind this project, and more on the intersection of art and holiness.
Rich Villodas is the Brooklyn-born lead pastor of New Life Fellowship, a large multiracial church with more than seventy-five countries represented in Elmhurst, Queens. Rich holds a Master of Divinity from Alliance Theological Seminary. He enjoys reading widely, preaching and writing on contemplative spirituality, justice-related matters, and the art of preaching. He's been married to Rosie since 2006 and they have two beautiful children, Karis and Nathan. His first book, The Deeply Formed Life, is now available wherever books are sold.
Through writing, speaking and leading, Thom has served the faith community for 40 years. He’s the founder of Group Publishing and Lifetree Café. He’s the author of many books, including “Why Nobody Wants to Go to Church Anymore.” Thom also directed the documentary film “When God Left The Building.” And he’s the founding director of Group Serves, which organizes volunteer mission experiences to help disadvantaged families throughout the world.
Scott and Troy pick out four of their favorite books of 2020. Troy may have interviewed each of the authors in his two favorites. (He did by the way.) Here are the four books The Book of Waking Up: Experiencing the divine love that reorders a life, by Seth Haines. Troy's second choice is Rich Villodas The Deeply Formed Life: Five Transformative Values to Root Us in the Way of Jesus. Scott's books were Nt Wright's: How God Became King:The Forgotten Story of the Gospels and his second choice is Thomas Sowell's: The Vision of the Anointed: Self-Congratulation as a Basis for Social Policy
Scott Perkins is a discipleship coach, author speaker, and the co-host of This Undivided Life. His passion is to help others understand their identity in Christ and discover their next step on the way of the disciple. In order to do this he utilizes questions that enable the person being coached to develop a next step that suits their unique circumstance.
Scott lives outside of Orlando, FL with his wife Missy. They have one daughter who is finding her way at university.
Scott and Troy talk about our propensity to expect our lives as well as others to change more quickly than we imagine. That the stories we tell we often tell ourselves are not true. That our technology gives us a false sense because we can find answers instantly. Yet our development as humans is never instant, it is a process that takes longer than we expect. When we start to live in this truth we give ourselves grace to grow, but others as well. Along the way we develop patience and the ability to wait.
David Zach is the lead singer and songwriter for the rock band Remedy Drive as well as an advocate in the fight against human trafficking. The band has recorded two concept albums to shine a light on slavery and to celebrate the modern day abolition. The band's community and fan base has contributed around $350,000 in donations and in-kind donations to the counter trafficking organization The Exodus Road.
When the band is not on tour David volunteers with The Exodus Road as an undercover operative. He spends time in brothels and in the red-light districts where underage girls and boys are sold by the hour. His role while undercover is to identify instances of minors being sold, and to capture actionable evidence of their trafficking using covert gear, some of which is funded by the Remedy Drive community and fan base.
Adam Weber lives in Sioux Falls (that’s in South Dakota). He’s the founder and one of the pastors at a multi-site church called Embrace. He quips that he still can’t believe he’s a pastor. He’s written two books Talking With God and most recently have Love Has A Name.
He’s married to his beautiful wife Becky and has 4 kids: Hudson, Wilson, Grayson, and Anderson. He likes typewriters, drives a 1936 Chevy, cheers for the Cincinnati Bengals, has a collection of animals including, seven chickens, two dogs, & three fish, but what he really wants is a sheep.
Scott and Troy discuss how putting our trust in people, things, systems, often leading to disappoint and disillusionment.They also discuss putting our trust in something that does not change, that's completely trustworthy.
Troy and Scott talk about our own humanness and how vulnerability, shows our true humanity. They also discuss how sharing with others helps us face our own humanity and how community and sharing our stories helps us live more fulfilled lives.
Emily Rodger is a 2x UCI GF Cycling World Champion. She loves fly fishing, living out her faith, and her God given living my purpose. The bike has taught he more than she ever knew. She shares her story about being hit twice on the bike and surviving and her long road to recovery. Most of all it's a story of hope.
Scott and Troy examen 3 daily questions we can ask ourselves. First, "what am I grateful for? Second, "who am I." And finally, Did I do well in being whom I'm supposed to be today?"
Because of life's often fast pace, our propensity towards busyness we often miss the beauty around us in the everyday moments of life. If we'd model our children and their ability to be so in the moment, so in the now, maybe we would find, discover more beauty in our lives.
We often think no is a negative word. That it has little benefit. But it's vital we use it to create margin and boundaries in our lives. When we say yes to something, we're always saying no to something else. Saying no, can and does create the space we often need to live much healthier lives.
A former emergency room physician, Dr. Matthew Sleeth felt like he was straightening deck chairs on the Titanic saving a patient at a time while the whole ship (Earth) was going down. Together with his wife and two children, he began to bring his lifestyle in line with his values, cutting back on their fossil fuel by two thirds and electricity use by nine tenths. Following a new calling, Dr. Sleeth resigned from his position as chief of the medical staff and director of the ER to teach, preach, and write about faith and the environment throughout the country.
Dr. Sleeth is a graduate of George Washington University School of Medicine and has two post-doctoral fellowships. He is the author of Serve God, Save the Planet: A Christian Call to Action (Zondervan, April 2007), the introduction to the Green Bible (2008, HarperOne), and 24/6: A Prescription for a Healthier, Happier Life.
Dr. Sleeth’s latest book is Reforesting Faith: What Trees Teach Us About the Nature of God and His Love for Us (April 2019, PenguinRandomHouse).
Dr. Dee Stokes is a spiritual advisor, speaker, coach, and educator who focuses on ministry, purposeful leadership, and education in an effort to "Build Influential People Who Change the World." She is the new CQ director for Fresh Expressions Dr. Stokes has spent over 25 years in higher education as a basketball coach and professor. After 18 years as a coach, her dreams and desires turned to full time ministry. Although not roaming the sidelines, she still has a passion for athletes, coaches, and the game she loves: Basketball. Her passion allows her to impact coaches and stay involved in the game.
Have you ever pondered, why you work so hard to please others? Have you ever been exhausted by such pursuits? What are some practical ways to not live in such a way? How can you create areas of peace, boundaries, the ability to say no. We discuss some ways to do this, we also talks about what Scott faced as a self professed people pleaser.
In the fast pace of life people often become a blur. They as Scott points out become "utilitarian" they can become a means to an end. Troy and Scott talk about how we can move from treating others this way with practical ways to honor others.
Sam Collier is a pastor, speaker, writer, and host of the A Greater Story with Sam Collier TV show and radio podcast. He is a speaker and host at North Point Ministries, founded by Andy Stanley, and he also communicates nationally and internationally as a speaker and contributor to the ReThink Group, Orange Network, Orange Tour, Alpha International Leadership Conference, Willow Creek Global Leadership Summit, Culture Conference, and more. He has also been interviewed on numerous TV shows, podcasts, and radio programs. Collier lives with his wife, Toni, and their daughter in Atlanta, Georgia.
We talk about Sam's book, A Greater Story: My Rescue, Your Purpose, and Our Place in God's Plan.
Joseph Sissac has over 20 years of ministry and church experience and leadership ranging from street evangelism, international missions to church planter and senior pastor. He is passionate about teaching the Word of God and making disciples as Christ commanded. Currently you can find Joseph at FactorPoints.com, where he founded and operates a discipleship teaching ministry and podcast. He and his wife Victoria reside in Sacramento California with their two children.
We discuss our shared obligation of being our brothers/sisters keeper, and the current climate of race relations in our nation.
Scott & Troy discuss our propensity and desire to control our lives. Often trying to control others as well. There is a true illusion we often fall victim to, that you I think we can control life, and those around us. it often leads to anxiety, stress, and an unhappy life. We also discuss some practices to put into place to help us face our challenges we face when trying to be in control. What are some of the areas that you try to control?
Scott and Troy discuss the new challenges they are facing with the pandemic. They talk, gratitude, presence, identity and intention. They talk about how CV19 has permeated all of our lives in all its areas. They also talk about some practical ways to face these challenging times.
Dr Derwin L. Gray is the founding and lead pastor of Transformation Church a multiethnic, multigenerational, mission-shaped community in Indian Land, South Carolina, just south of Charlotte, North Carolina.
He’s married to Vicki, They have been married since 1992 and have two adult children, Presley and Jeremiah. After graduating from BYU, he played professional football in the National Football League for five years with the Indianapolis Colts (1993–1997) and one year with the Carolina Panthers (1998).
Gray is the author of Hero: Unleashing God’s Power in a Man’s Heart (2009), Limitless Life: You Are More Than Your Past When God Holds Your Future (2013), Crazy Grace for Crazy Times Bible Study (2015), and The High-Definition Leader (2015). And His newest book The Good Life: What Jesus Teaches about Finding True Happiness.
Joel Comm is a New York Times bestselling author, professional keynote speaker, social media marketing strategist, live video expert, technologist, brand influencer, futurist, and eternal twelve-year-old.
With more than two decades of experience harnessing the power of the web, publishing, social media, and mobile applications to expand reach and engage in active relationship marketing, Joel is a sought-after public speaker who leaves his audiences inspired, entertained, and armed with strategic tools to create highly effective new media campaigns.
His latest serendipitous project is as co-host of the Bad Crypto Podcast, a top cryptocurrency show making the future of digital payments easy for others to understand.
We talk about his new book The Fun Formula.
Troy talks about his story. He relates part of his story about his father who died at 46 of colon cancer. He also shares how his father continues to influence him in positive ways.
Scott Perkins, co-host of This Undivided Life shares a bit of his story. Growing up in New England moving to Florida, his sister's accident and early death. I mentioned it was episode 14, but it's 15.
Mike McHargue is a public educator trusted by millions to use empathy and deep scientific insights to help them navigate some of the most difficult parts of the human experience. He’s the host of Ask Science Mike, is the bestselling author of Finding God in the Waves, and You’re a Miracle (and a Pain in the Ass), and works as a science advisor and story consultant for film and television working with clients including Marvel Studios and Pete Holmes.
Mike has been featured in The Atlantic, The New York Times, The Washington Post, NPR, The Huffington Post, and scores of other notable publications. Mike is an in-demand speaker appearing all over the world—including appearances at Google and MIT. Mike’s next book You are a Miracle (and a Pain in the Ass) comes out on April 28, 2020.
Mike co-founded The Liturgists and was a host of The Liturgists Podcast, but left the company and the podcast in 2019.
Mike lives in Los Angeles, CA with his wife Jenny, his daughters Madison and Macey, and their beloved dog, Ruby.
Here's what Carlos says in his bio..."I’m Carlos. I’m an author, speaker, moment maker, spider killer, and hope dealer." Carlos Whittaker is a People’s Choice Award winner, a former recording artist signed to a major label, a social media maven, and currently spends the majority of his time writing books and speaking on stages around the world. It really began when the Whittaker’s found their family in America’s spotlight with appearances on shows like CBS Early Morning, The Today Show and more when their viral video “Single Ladies Devastation” went viral. But for Carlos, his wife Heather and their three children, this viral moment was just a snapshot of the bigger picture.
Gerald serves as the Founder and President of the Stello Initiative, a 501c3 organization that mobilizes young adults to serve through service based conferences (For God So Loved Tour). Gerald’s passion for the next generation is best expressed by preaching biblical truth to students and adults around the globe. This passion has allowed him to speak to students at camps and conferences across the country including North Point Ministries, Bigstuf Camps, Passion City Church, Calvary Chapel, Momentum Conference, Orange Conference and many other events.
Gerald is the author of “Before You Go,” a resource designed to help students follow Jesus and grow in their faith after high school. He also co-authored Starting Now, a devotional for college freshman. And his third book, When Life Gives You Lemons: 3 must ask questions for navigating seasons of adversity.
Prior to his current role, Gerald spent 3 years doing non-profit work for the YMCA of Metro Atlanta, and 4 years as a student pastor at Browns Bridge Church.
Gerald is happily married to his beautiful wife Kiley and is father of twin girls Wesley Grace and Zoey Faith Fadayomi, he loves spending his free time cheering on Lebron James and browsing through the SNKRS app. They live in Atlanta.
Scott and Troy discuss the power of our positive words. The power of words that encourage and build up. We explore the ways in which these words can and do build a better world.
In this episode Scott & Troy discuss the power of our words. This episode is part one where we discuss the destructive power of our words. In next weeks episode we'll discuss how good words, positive words, encouraging words give us life.
Seth is a writer and photographer who loves the Ozarks, his wife and four boys, and a good collection of poems. He's the author of two books, both of which touch on addiction, sobriety, and spiritual formation. You can pickup a copy of The Book of Waking Up: Experiencing the Divine Love That Reorders a Life and the award winning book Coming Clean: A Story of Faith wherever books are sold.
We talk, art, books, creativity, photography and a love for good food. And yes we even talk about the hard stuff like addiction and pain.
Ashlee is a leader, pastor, writer and Bible teacher who exists to join God in His redemptive work here on Earth. Her work has one purpose: to help humanity build bridges back to the Truth of who God is and between one other in redemptive, healing relationship. Her passion for Scripture, family, writing, elevating women in the Church, and the holy journey of adoption are core to who she is. Ashlee serves as Formation & Preaching Pastor at Mars Hill Bible Church in Grand Rapids. She and her husband, Delwin, have three kids, Brooklyn, Myles, and Journey.
We talk about her new book Humankind:How Reclaiming Human Worth and Embracing Radical Kindness Will Bring Us Back Together
What happens when we lose our curiosity? How are we changed by a mindset of curiosity? Scott and Troy discuss the implications of a life of curiosity and it's benefits.
Troy Mclaughlin & Scott Perkins talk about our need for self care, which sounds selfish but it's not. It's one of the best gifts we can give ourselves. Join us as we talk about becoming more whole through the practice of self care.
Bob Hutchins (Franklin, TN) founded and was /CEO of BuzzPlant a digital marketing agency targeting the faith/family market. Since 2001, Bob has strategically guided online campaigns for countless movie/books/music releases and events, including Mel Gibson’s The Passion of the Christ, The Chronicles of Narnia, Soul Surfer, and Blue Like Jazz Bob is the author of Finally Human: Using digital media to restore culture and better our world.
Bob is also the host of Rumors of Grace- Where he talks to people rumored to have found beauty, and truth in broken and uncommon places.
Scott Perkins & Troy McLaughlin discuss choosing to live a life of gratitude despite our circumstances. We share some practical ways to do this; including thankfulness jars, gratitude journals and white board writings. Join us along our gratitude journey. We are so thankful for sharing part of your journey with us.
The Rev. Chad E. Jarnagin is a recognized musician, priest, & speaker. He is host of The Luminous Podcast as well as the Learning to BE Podcast, and the Founding Rector of Luminous Anglican Parish, a space for spiritual wellness in Nashville | Franklin, TN. He is an ordained priest within the Anglican Communion. Member, President’s Advisory Council on Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships (2003-2009). He is a postulant to the Rule of Saint Benedict. Chad is also a certified Enneagram Teacher.
Fr. Chad’s debut book, Learning to Be: Reconstructing Peace, and Spiritual Health is available on eBook and paperback (Morgan James Publishing).
We discuss Chad's book on how we can embrace peace and reconstruct our own spiritual health.
Troy Mclaughlin and co-host Scott Perkins talk about why they started the This Undivided Life Podcast.
For the most part we cling to our busyness as a badge of honor. Troy and Scott discuss our busyness and it's costs on our lives. Further discussing what a life looks like without busyness and it's relationship to our wholeness.
Often we are not living in our present. We are either looking back, at our pasts, or are looking forward to a time that is not now, a time that is not our present. Troy McLaughlin and Scott Perkins discuss the practice of living in our now.