Restoring the Soul with Michael John Cusick

Latest Episodes:

Episode 297 - Michael John & Julianne Cusick, "A Deep Dive into Restoring the Soul's Intensive Counseling" Feb 20, 2024

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Welcome to Restoring the Soul with Michael John Cusick. This episode delves into the transformative power of intensive counseling, a unique process honed over nearly two decades. Michael and Julianne Cusick explain how Restoring the Soul provides a safe, sacred space where you get clarity on your struggles and a clear path forward for healing. Tailored to each individual, psychological insight with spiritual practices are combined to ensure you are transformed and truly equipped to live differently. In just 1-2 weeks, we accomplish what might otherwise take months.

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Episode 296 - Alan Fadling, "A Non-Anxious Life" Feb 08, 2024

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Welcome to "Restoring the Soul with Michael John Cusick." Today, we explore the depths of a non-anxious life with guest Alan Fadling. We discuss the power of embodying peace and the transformative practice of God’s presence in our daily lives. Alan shared insights from his new book and his journey of replacing anxiety with gratitude, patience, and the rhythm of God's grace. We also see that peace is not just the absence of turmoil but the tangible presence of the divine we can experience moment by moment.
Join us in embracing the simple virtues—humility, gentleness, and kindness—that counter anxiety and guide us toward a life marked by serenity and trust in God's perfect pace.
Click here for a link to purchase Alan's book.

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Episode 295 - Michael John Cusick, "Brokenness: The True Currency of Heaven" Jan 19, 2024

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“We need to exchange the currency by which we do life for the currency of heaven.” - Michael John Cusick
Welcome to the Restoring the Soul podcast. You’re in for a treat as we’re featuring a talk given by our host, Michael John Cusick, to Denver Community Church titled “The Currency of Heaven.”
From the Beatitudes in Matthew 5:3 to the rich tapestry of Isaiah 55, we'll explore the idea that heaven is not just a far-off promise but an earthly reality where "heaven is happening here." And what does it mean to be blessed? To be "poor in spirit"? Today, we're delving into a profound paradox where brokenness is not a sign of spiritual bankruptcy but the very currency of heaven.

Michael will share a bit of his journey, from a young man yearning to touch the kingdom of God through struggle and restlessness to moments of being understood in the most unexpected of sanctuaries—a bedroom closet. A space where a friend's presence reflected Christ's love and attention.

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Episode 294 - Dr. Barbara Peacock, "African American Soul Care” Jan 15, 2024

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“Freedom is birthed out of suffering.” - Dr. Barbara Peacock
Welcome to Restoring the Soul with Michael John Cusick. On this celebration of Dr. Martin Luther King's birthday, we wanted to highlight our conversation with Dr. Barbara Peacock, an experienced preacher, teacher, and minister of discipleship and prayer. Dr. Peacock trains in spiritual direction and soul care for ministry leaders and has a God-given call and desire to serve as a spiritual coach for individuals and groups.
On this episode, she and Michael discuss her book, Soul Care in African American Practice. It’s a fascinating look at prayer, spiritual direction, and soul care and how the transatlantic journey for the slaves was the entry point or beginning of spiritual direction and soul care from an African American perspective. Dr. Peacock also uses examples of ten significant men and women—like Frederick Douglass, Martin Luther King Jr., Rosa Parks, Howard Thurman, and others—to give leadership examples of how vital soul care was to their lives.

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Episode 293 - Michael John Cusick, "The Serenity Prayer: Letting Go of Control" Jan 07, 2024

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Welcome to Restoring the Soul! In this episode, Michael and Peter Zaremba explore the essence of courage, not as an absence of fear, but as the willingness to take intentional action amidst it. Peter brings to light the profound acts of everyday bravery witnessed within his men's group, intertwining their discussions with the biblical narrative that emphasizes the value of such courage.

They also reveal that courage is woven into the small, everyday fabrics of our lives—be it through acts of vulnerability, trust, or the simple yet profound steps toward spiritual growth. Michael likens courage to a muscle that gets stronger with practice, a concept they both relate to the importance of being fully present, accepting the present moment as is, and taking life's meaningful risks.

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Episode 292 - Aundi Kolber, "Embracing Strength and Vulnerability" Dec 29, 2023

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Welcome to another episode of Restoring the Soul with Michael John Cusick. Today, we dive into the depths of emotional and psychological healing with Aundi Kolber as we explore the intricate interplay between somatic experiences, Internal Family Systems, and the transformative power of embracing our emotions with grace and strength.

In this episode, we delve into Aundi's remarkable insights on somatic awareness, the body's intuitive sense of safety, and navigating challenging emotions with curiosity rather than criticism. Aundi shares how her bestselling book, "Try Softer," has influenced the lives of many and how her journey continues in her latest work, "Strong Like Water," an exploration of strength as a dynamic and adaptable force, much like the nature of water itself.

Join us as Aundi takes us through a compelling conversation about validating emotions, employing grounding techniques, and understanding trauma's impact on our perception of safety. Together, Michael and Aundi discuss how podcasts like ours serve as a beacon of connection and healing, how faith intertwines with psychological well-being, and the importance of integrating our whole selves for a compelling journey toward healing.

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Episode 291 - Michael with Peter Zaremba, "Inner Transformation Through the Welcoming Prayer" Dec 22, 2023

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Welcome to another episode of Restoring the Soul with Michael John Cusick, where today we’re diving deep once again with Peter Zaremba into the transformative power of the Welcoming Prayer. This practice is your toolkit to embracing difficult emotions right where you are – focus on the emotion, welcome it with open arms, and surrender it actively to God. Our experiences and insights reveal how welcoming your feelings, not the circumstances, can shift your perspective and connect you deeper to divine peace. It's not about the noise around you but the stillness within you. Transform fear into love, chaos into serenity, and unrest into a profound sense of presence.
Join us as we welcome and surrender to the uncomfortable – turning every moment into an opportunity for growth and connection with the ever-present love of God.
HELPFUL RESOURCES:
Episode 288 - Michael with Peter Zaremba, "7 Toxic Outcomes of Maintaining Control"
Episode 289 - Michael with Peter Zaremba, "Releasing Control, Embracing Serenity"
Episode 290 - Rob Mathes, "Bridging the Sacred and Secular: A Chat with Rob Mathes"

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Episode 290 - Rob Mathes, "Bridging the Sacred and Secular: A Chat with Rob Mathes" Dec 16, 2023

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Welcome to another episode of Restoring the Soul.
Today, we welcome the extraordinarily gifted Rob Mathes, a true maestro who has woven his life around the threads of music, working with legends across genres from classical to hip-hop and transforming the sacred into song. Rob's annual Christmas concert, celebrating its 30th anniversary this weekend, has been a melting pot of musical styles, capturing the essence of his spiritual journey through soulful melodies and collaborations with icons like Vanessa Williams, Michael McDonald, and David Sanborn.
In Michael's conversation with Rob, you’ll discover the profound personal significance behind his song "Although It Is the Night," inspired by St. John of The Cross’s poem “Dark Night of the Soul”. Rob will also take us behind the scenes of his work with musical giants such as Bruce Springsteen and the incomparable Stevie Wonder.
This is more than a conversation; it's a journey through the soulful symphony of life and faith with Rob Mathes as our guide.

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Episode 289 - Michael with Peter Zaremba, "Releasing Control, Embracing Serenity" Dec 01, 2023

Show notes

Welcome to another episode of Restoring the Soul with Michael John Cusick. In today's conversation, we dive into the practice of releasing our grip on judgment, control, and attachment to outcomes. Peter Zaremba shares an eye-opening personal account of encountering an irritating traveler, prompting a reflection on his quick-to-judge nature. This episode explores the liberating concept of being fully present in the moment and the pitfalls of becoming entangled with future expectations.

Together with Michael, the conversation unfolds to reveal the challenges and benefits of detachment—from mental, emotional, and physical standpoints. We'll hear how expectations can cloud our holiday experiences and the transformative shift when we move from expectation to hopeful possibility. The discussion also delves into the significance of the Serenity Prayer, the wisdom of the Twelve Steps in recovery, and Michael's morning routine of surrender and letting go—all as paths to finding true peace and contentedness.
HELPFUL RESOURCES:
Episode 288 - Michael with Peter Zaremba, "7 Toxic Outcomes of Maintaining Control"

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Episode 288 - Michael with Peter Zaremba, "7 Toxic Outcomes of Maintaining Control" Nov 24, 2023

Show notes

Welcome to another episode of Restoring the Soul with Michael John Cusick. Today, Peter Zaremba is our guest, and we'll dive into the intricate topic of control and its negative impact. Control has become a paramount issue, particularly during the pandemic and times of global upheaval. It's a universal human condition, a survival mechanism, but often, the desire to control is tethered to our outcomes, and that's where things start getting complicated.
Join us as we share our journeys with control, our struggles, and the toll it has taken on our well-being. It's not always easy to accept what we can't control, but there's a certain liberation in letting go. We'll explore the concept of the 'circle of control' - envisioning those things squarely under our control and those that aren't.
As we meditate on our collective challenges with outcomes and control, we'll face the hard truth - that our happiness doesn't stem from our control over outcomes. We'll explore the confusing difference between a healthy desire for change and an unhealthy attachment to results. We'll delve into how our craving for control can lead to emotional turmoil, relationship struggles, and even addictive behaviors.

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