Being Human with Steve Cuss

Latest Episodes:

Life Beyond Burnout with (Another) Steve Cuss Mar 17, 2025

Show notes

First things first: Yes, both the host and guest on this episode are named Steve Cuss. The overlap doesn’t stop there, either. Both Steves work in the leadership space, host Steve through Capable Life and guest Steve through The GamePlan Consultancy.

The two discuss guest Steve’s career in the video game industry, the importance of mentorship, and the intensity of burnout. They talk about cultivating joy among teams, balancing compassion for others with one’s own needs, and the hallmarks of servant leadership. Steve and Steve reflect on the predictable patterns and attempted solutions among professionals, the dynamics of trauma healing, and the journey from self-awareness to self-growth.

Resources mentioned in this episode include:

The GamePlan Consultancy
Liberated Leadership: Unmasking the Authentic Leader Within by Steve J. Cuss
Capable Life
The Contrarian’s Guide to Leadership by Steven Sample
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy

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Down the Rabbit Hole with Charlie Peacock Mar 10, 2025

Show notes

Charlie Peacock is a Nashville music producer, jazz and rock-and-roll recording artist, singer-songwriter, and author. As Steve Cuss reflects on his friend Charlie's life, work, and new book Roots & Rhythm, a beautiful theme arises: the wildly relational nature of art.

Charlie and Steve talk about the world-class musicians Charlie has worked with, the vulnerability of creating songs in collaboration, and what it looks like to stay human sized on a global stage. They discuss encouragement, love, and the power of praise. Steve and Charlie also talk about Charlie’s sensitivity to the fear of others and how he has put into practice the work of love casting out fear.

Resources mentioned in this episode include:

“Putting Beauty into the World with Charlie Peacock and Andi Ashworth”
Roots & Rhythm: A Life in Music by Charlie Peacock
Why Everything That Doesn’t Matter, Matters So Much: The Way of Love in a World of Hurt by Andi Ashworth and Charlie Peacock
The Odyssey by Homer
“You Can Call Me Al” by Paul Simon
No Man’s Land by Charlie Peacock
Turtle Island by Gary Snyder
“Rowing Song” by Patty Griffin
Music & Meaning

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USAID’s Demise, Fighting Malaria, and Being the Church with Nathaniel Moller Mar 03, 2025

Show notes

“The richest man in the world turned off billions of dollars in funding for the literal poorest people in the world. It’s just, from my perspective, incomprehensible.”

So says Nathaniel Moller, former USAID worker. Nathaniel and Steve discuss the presidential administration’s recent mass cuts to USAID programs and what the effects may be. They consider the cultural moments in America’s history when “the big C Church and the little church” have had a choice—operate out of fear or from love—and why Nathaniel believes such a moment is upon us now. They talk about the tenacity required to combat global issues such as malaria, the beauty of using our gifts and skills to further the kingdom, and why Nathaniel still has hope for the common good.

Resources mentioned in this episode include:

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Walking in Wisdom with Uli Chi Feb 24, 2025

Show notes

When Uli Chi thinks of wisdom, he primarily thinks of relational well-being.

Steve and Uli discuss where wisdom and relationships intersect, why we need wise leaders, and what it looks like to relate rather than react. They discuss the current political climate and how it affects human connections, and they consider the importance of treating people as persons, not as simple ideas. Uli sheds light on concrete steps for living wisely, drawing on biblical examples that provide hope, direction, and opportunities for delight.

Resources mentioned in this episode include:

Uli Chi
The Wise Leader by Uli Chi
“Ash Wednesday” by T. S. Eliot
Necessary Endings: The Employees, Businesses, and Relationships That All of Us Have to Give Up in Order to Move Forward by Henry Cloud
The Humor of Christ by Elton Trueblood

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In Pursuit of Integration Feb 17, 2025

Show notes

What does it mean to live a fully integrated life in Christ?

Lisa and Steve Cuss return to do a deeper dive into some of the profound themes that have emerged in recent episodes of Being Human. They reflect on what it means to be bewildered by God, as Zach Meerkreebs experienced during the Asbury Outpouring. They unpack Kathleen Smith’s definition of differentiation and Eugene Cho’s challenge to focus on one global need while championing others in their callings. The conversation also delves into Steve Carter’s reflections on grief and the ways loss has shaped their own journeys of faith.

Tune in for a thoughtful, hope-filled conversation on living whole lives in Christ.

Resources mentioned in this episode include:

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Revisiting ‘Grieve, Breathe, Receive’ with Steve Carter Feb 10, 2025

Show notes

“Did you have integrity today?”

That’s the question that Steve Carter—author, podcaster, and former lead teaching pastor of Willow Creek Community Church—pictured his son asking him when allegations of sexual harassment against Bill Hybels emerged. Steve Carter shares how he has dealt with being misunderstood when his highest values were wielded against him. He talks about the power of the Resurrection and shares what propelled him to write Grieve, Breathe, Receive—a memoir on grief and healing. Listen in for a rich discussion on relationships, reactivity, and remembrance.

Resources mentioned in this episode include:

Luke: Interpretation: A Bible Commentary for Teaching and Preaching by Fred B. Craddock
Steve Carter
Craft & Character with Steve Carter
Grieve, Breathe, Receive: Finding a Faith Strong Enough to Hold Us by Steve Carter
The Thing Beneath the Thing: What’s Hidden Inside (and What God Helps Us Do About It) by Steve Carter
Willow Creek Community Church
“Managing Leadership Anxiety: Yours and Theirs”
“Cadet Prayer”
Annie F. Downs
Ira Glass
Camino de Santiago
“What Is a Verbatim?”
Compassion International
“Welcoming Practice”
The Worst James Harden Flops

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Eugene Cho’s Guide to Mercy Over Burnout Feb 03, 2025

Show notes

Feeling overwhelmed by the state of the world?

Steve Cuss and Eugene Cho, president of Bread for the World, offer wisdom for Christians who want to pursue justice without burning out. Eugene and Steve discuss moving from a savior complex to faithful discipleship, engaging politics with compassion, and using our gifts to fight hunger and inequality. Tune in for a powerful conversation on justice, mercy, and making a lasting impact.

Resources mentioned in this episode include:

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How to Be ‘True to You’ with Kathleen Smith Jan 27, 2025

Show notes

Where does your energy go?

That’s the question therapist and author Kathleen Smith ponders with Steve Cuss as they discuss anxiety, people-pleasing, and playfulness. Their conversation covers the way people turn to relationships for comfort and the importance of recognizing our finite nature as humans. They talk about systems theory and how it shapes Smith’s therapy practice.

Smith and Cuss discuss the ups and downs of gossip, the power of intergenerational connections, and the intention it takes to shift from overfunctioning to resting in God.

Resources mentioned in this episode:

Kathleen Smith
True to You: A Therapist’s Guide to Stop Pleasing Others and Start Being Yourself by Kathleen Smith
Everything Isn’t Terrible: Conquer Your Insecurities, Interrupt Your Anxiety, and Finally Calm Down by Kathleen Smith
The Anxious Overachiever
Bowen Family Systems Theory

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Authentic Love and The Asbury Outpouring with Zach Meerkreebs Jan 20, 2025

Show notes

When Zach Meerkreebs finished preaching at a university chapel service February 8, 2023, he texted his wife to say he felt like his sermon hadn’t gone well at all. Four hours later, he wept into a voice memo, asking her to load up their kids and head his way as soon as possible. What we now know as The Asbury Outpouring was beginning.

Meerkreebs, a pastor and author, describes what it’s like to be part of a supernatural movement that takes on a life of its own. He and Steve talk about the shame many preachers feel after giving sermons they feel went poorly and how Meerkreebs has learned to steward his emotions in those moments. They talk about the vulnerability of grief, how God has met Meerkreebs at various moments throughout his life, and their hopes for the discipleship of Generation Z.

Resources mentioned in this episode include:

Lower: Igniting Spiritual Awakening Through Radical Humility by Zach Meerkreebs
The Asbury Outpouring
Adrenaline and Stress: The Exciting New Breakthrough That Helps You Overcome Stress Damage by Archibald Hart
The Toronto Blessing
Awakenings

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Four Dynamics, Three Relationships, Two Cohosts, and One New Year Jan 13, 2025

Show notes

Every human has three core relationships: to themselves, to others, and to God. Within those relationships, there are four dynamics that can infect them: assumptions, reactivity, predictable recurring patterns, and attempted solutions.

Listen in as Steve and Lisa Cuss start a conversation that explores these relationships and dynamics throughout 2025. The couple provides a high-level overview of each relationship and dynamic, setting the stage for upcoming episodes that will take deeper dives. They consider what the Lord’s Prayer and the Book of Job have to say about who we understand God and ourselves to be. Steve also gives a preview of guests soon to appear on Being Human, including Zach Meerkreebs, Kathleen Smith, and Ian Morgan Cron.

Resources mentioned in this episode include: